I don’t drink alcohol. I never have, and I don’t know if I ever will. Sure, I’ve tried to drink a few times—one shot, two shots,a glass of Prosecco—but it’s all forced; I feel like I’m supposed to do these sorts of things. I used to think alcohol was stupid, so that’s why I vowed never to drink.
When I started freshman year, I chose to dorm on the “Healthy Living,” floor in hopes of finding people similar to me. As it turned out, I unfortunately found myself getting along better with those who drank than those who stayed sober. So I went with it, I chose to hang out with the drinkers as the only nondrinker, rather than hang out with the other sober kids. I know that the students who didn’t drink judged me because I went to parties; they didn’t like me because of it. I see them around campus now and mostly all of them are drinking, and I’m still not. It’s funny how things work out.
Every weekend I watch my friends take shots, lick salt, and cradle beers with unique names and cool designs. “Can I try that?” I would ask, and would take a sip just to cringe because it tastes so awful to me. Once I realized that it was unlikely for me to find someone that was similar to me and didn’t drink, I desperately wanted to fit in but I couldn’t get myself to do it. Like I said, I tried drinking numerous times but I was so anxious that I’d talk myself into a stomach ache after one sip of vodka. It’s just not worth it to me. I go out with my friends to bars and sip water while they get drunker and drunker; but I’m still having fun, I’m still dancing, I’m still laughing, I’m still communicating with people. So many times have people responded to my sober-ness with loud slurs of * “How are you having fun right now?!?!” And all I can do is laugh because I do have fun, and I’m being safe.
But I have to say, sometimes it does suck that I don’t drink. For example, I was told that I had to be an idiot to go to Mock Wedding stone cold sober, so I didn’t go. I guess the same would be assumed for Clam Jam, except I’ve gone sober every year and I’ve had fun. Maybe I don’t have as much fun as people who are drunk, but I’ve accepted that fun for me is of a different kind. My regret is not finding enough of that fun in college. I keep telling myself that I wasn’t cut out for college because I didn’t drink, but I think I just didn’t try hard enough to find people like me. Or maybe I truly am just that strange person by herself. I mean, how many people do you know who hang out in crowds of drunk people, completely sober, easily turning down any offer of alcohol? Peer pressure never meant anything to me.
I’m about to graduate and I don’t regret being sober for four years of college. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve made great impressions just by being who I am and I’d never change that for anyone. If you don’t drink, don’t be afraid to hang out with the drinkers and you don’t need to pretend you’re nursing a can of beer just so people don’t judge you. I’ve learned that people who catch you in the act of “not drinking” are shocked, maybe even impressed, and they move on and forget about it. Just make sure you’re having fun some way or another. College is not about getting trashed to have fun—it’s about figuring what makes you happiest and embracing it.
Photo Source: http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/the-10-signs-youre-trying-to-hard-to-…