What's Your "Real College Experience"? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

What's Your "Real College Experience"?

Mine Doesn't Involve Alcohol.

10
What's Your "Real College Experience"?

People often say the "complete college experience." Sometimes they change the first word: complete, full, real, true. They all mean more or less the same thing. And somehow, they all involve partying on the weekends and drinking underage at said parties. These are the images that you get if you type "college party" into Google Images.

Sure, there are some students who see that as their "real college experience." There are always going to be those freshmen who party Thursday through Sunday, and get drunk every night, and very little can ever be done to change that. There are also students, however who don't want that to be their "real college experience." I'm one of the latter.

Friday and Saturday night, I went to two parties. Yeah, I did. The first was for a club I'm in. It was a mixer of sorts, so that the new members could meet the old. The second was a reunion with some friends from before school actually started, so that we could all hang out again and see how everyone's years were going in case we hadn't seen each other since start of classes. At both parties, there was alcohol available. At the former, there was punch--labelled "contains alcohol"--as well as a few kinds of soda and some beer. Because this was indeed a college party, age wasn't strictly enforced, and so if underclassmen wanted to drink then that was their prerogative. At the second party, it was a similar kind of situation, but no labels were needed because it was obvious what did and did not contain alcohol.

I mention this because it was somewhat different than what I had envisioned as a college party. Nobody was making anybody else drink if they didn't want to, and saying "no" to a drink was completely okay, and often, you were offered something else instead. This was a great atmosphere because there was no pressure to get drunk, but the option was there. Something else that happened at both parties was pong. However, it wasn't beer pong. It was water pong. So it was just a game to play for fun with no consequence or prize for anyone involved, something just for fun and just to get to know people better and have a good time.

Somehow, before coming to college and before going to any parties, I had this idea that the only way to be invited to a college party was to drink there, or to know someone going to the party who did drink. Now, I have no clue why that was my idea of a college party. I now know that there are certainly parties like that, but also that there are lots where the host, or hostess, doesn't expect you to drink if you're underage--or even if you're legally allowed--and that you can still socialize and have a great time without drinking. You don't need to party to have an active social life. I've gone out to the movies or dinner with friends, or even just stayed in and had a movie marathon with popcorn in someone's dorm. There isn't a need to always go out if you don't want to, but sometimes it can be really fun to.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

363
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Times Aubrey Plaza Described Sophomore Year

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

238
Aubrey Plaza
Flickr Creative Commons

Aubrey Plaza is one of my favorite humans in Hollywood. She's honest, blunt, unapologetic, and hilarious. I just started my sophomore year of college, and found that some of her best moments can accurately describe the start of the school year.

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

Keep Reading...Show less
graduation

Things you may not realize are different between high school and college:

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

20 Things You Forgot To Thank Your Mom For

Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

1545
family
Facebook

Dear Mom,

You took care of me and my brothers our entire lives and you still continue to! I will not be able to truly grasp all of the hard work that you put into this family until I create my own one day. But, I know that there are plenty of times I forgot to give you a simple thank you or an appreciative smile. I thank you for everything that you have done for me and will continue to do for me. Here are some examples of those times where you had my back and I forgot to pat your back for saving me:

Keep Reading...Show less
pumpkin
Holytaco.com

College is hard. As people ages 18-22, we’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with our lives, our careers, our eating habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and other necessities for adult life. We definitely don’t take proper care of ourselves; it’s basically impossible when we have essays, tests and readings due and somehow we’re supposed to eat right, exercise and sleep. We’re doomed to get sick. I have zero experience in science but when I get sick there are certain things I do to make myself better.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments