College - the best time of your life. This is the time you experiment and try new things. It’s the place you seek your passions. It’s also the time you find out who you are.

This is also the time you are most confused though. You don’t know what you want to do with your life, yet you’re sprung into this entire world of uncertainty and confusion. You try and make as many friends as possible and see where everything ends up taking you.

With 18-22-year-olds around the world doing this, there have been stereotypes that have been made clear. First, you have to party to really get the “college experience." I can tell you first hand this is not the case. Some of my worst nights have been out at parties having to take care of girls who cannot handle their alcohol. Some of my favorite nights have been going out to dinner with friends and enjoying the company - sober (I know, shocker). Getting drunk four nights a week doesn’t guarantee you a fun four years. It can guarantee mass amounts of hangovers, going into debt from overspending on drunchies and many decisions you’ll regret the next day.

Now I don’t mean to bag on partying and going out altogether. Sometimes, I love going out with friends and meeting new people. In fact, bonding with girls in fraternity bathrooms is one of my favorite hobbies. These nights can be some of the best because you become closer with friends and you’re able to let loose from the educational black hole that is college. There’s nothing wrong with letting your guard down and letting yourself breathe a little. I’m all for it.

All I’m trying to say is that partying and college have become a dynamic duo that seem to be more iconic than Kendall and Kylie. They just don’t always need to be intertwined to be considered the “full college experience." College is what you make it, and if you want to be all about school, then go for it. If you want it to be all about parties, then go for it. All in all, there is no such thing as the “college experience." Not everyone is going to enjoy tailgating at three in the afternoon on a Saturday, some just want to watch the football game that night. Some don’t want to only focus on books and classes, they want to be crazy for a night. Don’t let the stereotype of partying make you think that you’re somehow missing out on college because you’re instead doing things you enjoy. Make college what you want, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.