I don’t know about you, but I’ve had some pretty solid birthday parties. Ratatouille themed cooking parties. Build-A-Bear Workshop celebrations. Pottery wheel festivities.
Birthday parties were fun. Birthday parties were brainless. But now, surrounded amongst a myriad of unfamiliar faces on campus and with no parents to plan my parties, I am feeling quite lost.
Sure, the girls down the hall are nice and that guy I say hi to on my way to Italian is, too, but do they make my birthday guest list?
Sadly, no.
To me, there is nothing more awkward than when a group of unfamiliar people sing you happy birthday and offer to take you out. The “happy birthday song” is awkward on its own: combine that with a group of people you’ve just met, and the awkwardness level skyrockets out of this world. With friends that you just met your freshman year, it can be hard to figure out a way to celebrate.
But luckily for you, I’ve come up with a few good ideas to celebrate your birthday that result in minimal awkwardness and maximum fun.
1. For the Adventurous Birthday Girl/Boy: Share a box (or two, or three) of Insomnia Cookies after a Scavenger Hunt on Keyser Quad. Scavenger hunts are a bonding experience that not only bring people together, but also produce some quality photos! Have a friend act as the game-maker while the rest of you run around hunting for clues.
2. For the Introverted Birthday Girl/Boy: Gather a few people on your hall and offer to host a game night over a bowl of popcorn in your dorm. Who knows? It could even turn into a cozy and memorable movie night! (Side note: the AMRs have comfy and awesome social lounges in the basement!).
3. For the Secret Chef Birthday Girl/Boy: Use your dorm building’s common kitchen with a group of people to bake cupcakes or a cake. This way, you’ll have your very own birthday cake and you can bond with future friends over cracked eggshells and sugar spills.
4. For the Extroverted Birthday Girl/Boy: Research awesome events happening in and around Baltimore. Events happening downtown or organized pumpkin picking trips really can make a birthday that more memorable and special!
5. For the Athletic Birthday Girl/Boy: Using equipment from the Rec Center, have a field day on the Homewood Field. Set up water gun fights, relay races, and Frisbee tosses with your friends to celebrate your birthday!
And in the end, regardless of your “type,” it doesn’t matter where you choose to go or how you choose to celebrate your birthday; all that matters is that you surround yourself with those who make you happiest on your happiest of day. Try to embrace this beautiful Homewood Campus, as your true “home away from home.”
Photo: http://digbatonrouge.com/event/happy-birthday-party-2/