“You aren't fun.”

“Why are you so boring?”

“You’re never going to meet new people if you don’t go out.”

Those are just some of the questions I receive from my friends on a weekly basis. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going out on occasion, but I am not a 2-3 nights a week party girl. Or even a weekly party girl for that matter. I enjoy having a few beers by a lake or a glass or two of wine at night, but that is the extent of my adult beverage enjoyment for the most part. Whoa whoa whoa, a sorority girl that remembers her weekends? But that goes against every stereotype… yep you caught me (and a ton of other girls c'mon we don't live in a movie). So when people approach me and tell me I am “no fun” for not drinking or experimenting with drugs or going out every weekend, I just sit and think to myself, “wow my priorities are screwed up.”

Let’s straighten a few things out real quick.

1. Stereotypes, specifically college stereotypes, are ridiculous-- putting people into a box does not determine reality.
2. Not every college student wants to blackout every weekend.
3. Going to parties multiple times a week does not determine if a person is fun or not.
4. I am not against partying, I think it can be loads of fun. I just prefer parties to be a special occasion that I enjoy once in awhile. It just is not the lifestyle for me.

Got it? Okay good.

So why do I choose not to party on a regular basis? Well as much as I would like to construct the world's most sarcastic (but true) list of reasons why, I’ll just give the real answer(s). I am not trying to throw shade at people who party-- do what you enjoy! These are just the reasons I make it an occasional activity.

I enjoy sleep.

So obvious but even more true. I take 17 credit hours, work 20 hours a week, write articles every week, do a crap ton of homework (woohoo science majors), workout, make sure my dog is exercised/given enough love, and I still make time to hang out with friends a few times a week. I love what I do, but I am so tired so often. I would much rather get a solid 9 hours of sleep than waste money on alcohol and stay out until 3 am. Plus, if I get to sleep by a reasonable time, I will be able to get up earlier and get the most out of my days-- total win.

Alcohol is expensive.

I have no idea how ‘broke’ college students can buy $15-$30 or more worth of alcohol each weekend. My logic is I'd prefer to spend that money on gas to take a trip to Estes park for the day or to go snowboarding. Those memories will last me infinitely longer than any bottle will.

I care about my body more than the average Joe.

I work at a gym, I workout 5-6 days a week, I (usually) meal prep and eat very healthy. Why would I ever want to throw away all my hard work on alcohol which can reach up to 226 calories a shot according to http://getdrunknotfat.com (check out the website for a comprehensive list of alcohol calories).There is no way I am going to waste that many macros on a liquid that will, in turn, make me hungry more than once in a blue moon. Hard pass.

I have other responsibilities.

I have a dog and a job. I have a responsibility to my dog to be home a reasonable amount of time during each day-- I can’t just not come home at night because I got drunk and passed out somewhere. Her quality of life depends on me, and that is not a responsibility I take lightly. Also, if I show up to work hungover or worse I call off because I am, I could get fired. Plus working hungover would be miserable. That is a risk I can’t afford to take.

I would prefer to be doing something to better myself.

Instead of drinking, I could be getting my grades up, working out, actually working, or making memories (that I will remember the next day). I am all about personal growth and moving forward, anything I can do to help me reach my goals I will do.

I just don’t care.

Standing in a hot room with other belligerent drunk college kids, crossing my fingers that the cops won’t get called is not a common activity I enjoy. I don’t care to watch people fall over, or to be one of them. I don’t care to risk getting a misdemeanor or worse on my record. Most importantly, I don’t care that it is what the majority of my friends are doing. They do what makes them happy, and I do what makes me happy. Thank goodness I do not have party FOMO (fear of missing out).

Hopefully, that cleared a few things up. Make fun of me all you want, but I am more than happy to be the “boring” friend on any given night. Sure I may not be the life of the party, but I am always up for adventure, and that is worth it to me.