If you were to go to Uptown Oxford, Ohio on a sunny Saturday afternoon what would you see? You’d probably see the bars packed, fraternity houses full of people and plenty of beer pitchers and cans. I actually have nothing against this. College students have the right to make their own decisions in and out of the classroom. I do have one question regarding these images though; what are the priorities of these kids?
I get it, it’s the weekend and it’s time to relax and have some fun. I have not spent a full weekend in Oxford since April 2016. I don’t need to see any more; I saw enough my freshman year. I spend my weekends working at a hotel, so having off weekends is a rarity at best. I don’t work because I enjoy giving up my free time. I do it because gaining experience and making money is a priority of mine. I’d rather put in 16 hours on the clock than 6 hours in the bar and then 10 hours on the couch. I don’t protest having fun on the weekends. I just have my own priorities.
To be honest, drinking has never interested me. I have never really tried beer, and I’ve only ever had a few sips of wine. I just don’t think it smells or tastes that good. I also happen to not be the smartest kid on the block, and I haven’t really seen too much data about how drinking makes you smarter. I am of the opinion that you are what you act like. If you want to act like a fool, then that is exactly what you are. I have also really never have seen what’s so attractive about alcohol. I’ve seen plenty of teens and adults when they are drunk; they are anything but attractive when they’re in that state.
College should be fun; as many have told me, “It only goes downhill after college” (oh god). I just think that fun shouldn’t just mean going out and getting drunk. There are plenty of people who do many other things for fun; they’re just more difficult to notice. College should also be about priorities and figuring out what matters most in your life.
I try to incorporate fun in my life, but my version of fun might be a little different than most. I enjoy working, making money, talking with mentors, and gaining real world experience. I hold myself to certain standards that I feel will give me an edge when it comes to being a better professional, but more importantly, a better human being.
Millennials are the next generation that will lead families, businesses, and the government; maybe at some point we should start acting like it.
