Not the college experience you're expecting

Some people talk about college like it’s two things: academics and nightlife. You’re either buried in textbooks or partying. When those extremes are treated as the norm, if you’re not part of it, it starts to feel like you’re the one falling behind.

I didn’t party. Not because I was scared or trying to be different; I simply didn’t care to. But choosing not to go out meant I had to figure out how to experience college on my own. And this opened a version of school no one really tells you about.

I said yes to all the random stuff like building stuffed animals, making slime, and karaoke nights with people I barely knew. I went tubing down the New River with an amazing Christian community I met. I jumped on trampolines. I played volleyball barefoot on the sand, laughing so hard I actually couldn’t breathe. I passed a soccer ball through the halls of the dorm, knowing I probably wasn’t supposed to. I found random new places to eat and secret hangout spots on campus. I went to a show at the Center for the Arts and watched an insane acrobatics performance.

And late-night studying? Yeah, I did that too. But sometimes it turned out far better than anyone could expect — deep conversations that lasted until 3 a.m. when the homework didn’t matter anymore, but the people sharing their experiences did. That’s what stuck with me. Not the exams, not the lectures or projects. But the late-night talks in the dorm or walking across campus in the middle of the night with a group of friends because you’re suddenly hungry.

College pushes you into this weird double life. Everyone expects you to suddenly be an adult — handle deadlines, manage responsibilities, perform like you’ve got everything figured out. At the same time, there’s this pressure to constantly “live it up” and go out every weekend like you’ll miss out on your life if you don’t. To be honest, it gets exhausting. Sometimes the best thing you can do is go back to the basics. Watch a movie. Make popcorn. Goof around. Sit and chill. Do something that doesn’t require recovery the next morning but leaves you feeling happy.

It’s easy to believe that without parties, you’re missing the best part of college. We’re told that this is the way to make college fun — work hard, party harder. You can do so much more by stepping out of it. At the end of the day, your unique college experience is what you make it. Make memories you’ll remember. In doing so, I found joy, connection, depth, and amazing people. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and I thank God for everything.