The three-day “hallo-weekend” tradition is something most college students look forward to for weeks. Costumes planned well in advance, plans made, ready to have a weekend of going out, partying, and social events.
For some reason, I’m having a difficult time deciding if I want to participate this year. Last year, I had such a good time on Halloween, but recently, going out hasn’t excited me at all. It feels like a chore. To spend money on a costume, spend hours getting ready and making sure I look good enough, and staying up until 2 a.m. socializing. It can be tiring.
I also have some anxieties about getting a costume and dressing up. I want to look good, but not too good. You have to fit into the expectation of each night. And each night is different. Thursday night is supposed to be “chill.” But what does it mean to have a chill costume? Friday and Saturday are when people go all out. The cold temperatures don’t matter, and comfort isn’t considered. I don’t want to be lame or have “FOMO,” but at the end of the day, this semester has been a tough one, and the effort of Halloween seems like more stress than it’s worth.
I have always been more of an introverted homebody type. But don’t get me wrong, I love to have a bit of fun. That’s where the difficult decision comes in. I know that if I participate in Halloween this year, I will have fun. My friends are always fun to be around, and we always have a good time. But am I only going out to avoid feeling “lame”?
I don’t think peer pressure is exactly the right term for this feeling; it’s more a societal pressure. My friends would understand if I said I wasn’t feeling up to it. But my mind says, “I’m a senior in college! When will I get to have this experience again?” Maybe never. So suck up the tiredness and the money spent and go out anyway.
I want to tell anyone having the same dilemma as me not to listen to the societal pressure. For some people, going out is just not that fun. And that’s okay! You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Halloween can be just as much fun when spent in bed, watching movies, and eating candy. But if you enjoy the parties but don’t know if this holiday is for you, maybe participate in one night instead of all three. That is likely what I will end up doing. It’s a good compromise.
I’m already an indecisive person. I want to think through every scenario before deciding. But I have to remind myself that at the end of the day, it’s simply not that deep. Whatever I end up doing will not make or break my weekend. I will have fun going out, and I will have just as much fun staying in. It’s important to do whatever feels best for you. Don’t think about what other people may want from you. Sometimes, it’s okay to be lame.