Twenty-years-old. Wow, congratulations. You are no longer a teenager, but you aren’t cool or old enough to go to the bars without breaking a law or two. So now what? Believe me, going to a frat is no longer fun. Who needs overly drunk freshmen leaning on you saying they ‘love’ you and telling you how ‘wise’ you are? Not you, you’ve been doing that scene for the past two years. Well, it looks like house parties are the name of your game. Or perhaps you should just lay low until your 21st? Here are some fun things to do around Pittsburgh and campus that could keep your mind off the whole “You aren’t 21 yet” thing.
1. House parties: Hopefully by now your friends live off campus, so feel free to hit up their house, but don’t forget to help CLEAN UP! No one wants their friends coming to the party and leaving the mess behind.
2. Take advantage of on-campus events: This may seem a little “freshmen-like,” but go in knowing you are there purely to have fun. Stop caring what people think, so go play that Bingo and scream when you win big.
3. Go downtown: The downtown scene has great opportunities for students to enjoy. Pittsburgh’s Cultural District has really fun concerts and shows that make you feel like an adult without the constant reminder that you can’t drink.
4. People watch: Self-explanatory. Sit out on Towers Patio, your porch, or Schenley Quad, and just watch people come stumbling in. You could even make up fun scenarios with your other non-21-year-old friends.
5. Stay in: Let’s be real, the moment you turn 21 you are going to be out in the South Side, Oakland, or Shadyside every weekend. That comes with a fee. So stay in, watch Netflix, and SAVE YOUR MONEY! You’ll be surprised how fast $20 goes at a bar; now multiply that by 15 or 16 weekends; it starts to build up.
Get smart, stay safe, don’t break the law, and enjoy being the awkward age of 20!