LMU students are two weeks into their first semester of school, and the freshman class has officially been introduced to college party culture. As a member of the class of 2023, I was very excited to attend my first college party. Here are five lessons that I learned from that first night of fun!
Attendees at parties genuinely want to meet new people
I walked into the party expecting people to keep to themselves and their friends, but it turned out I was completely wrong! For example, I met so many girls just by standing in line for the bathroom! Being a more reserved person myself, when I’m around people I don’t know, I usually struggle with introducing myself to others and making small talk. To help myself out, I turned the night into a game of seeing how many people I could meet by the end of the party. By going outside of my comfort zone, I was able to make new friends whom I never would have met otherwise. The moral of the story is don’t be afraid to talk to new people, because everyone there is looking to make their own new connections, too.
You SHOULD NOT feel pressured to do ANYTHING at all
You (and I cannot stress this enough) should NEVER feel pressured by anyone to do anything at a party. If you do find yourself in a stressful scenario involving peer pressure, just remember to stick to what makes you feel comfortable. And if the situation escalates, just go with your gut, even if that means leaving immediately. Do not put yourself in jeopardy just so that you can “fit in”. The most important thing is always to remain safe! Remember, no one should tell you what you can and can’t do, so just don’t give people that power.
If you do decide to drink, keep track!
Make sure that you know what you’re drinking and how much you have drunk throughout the night. Whether you draw tally marks on your arm or keep a log on your phone, be aware of exactly what and how much alcohol you’re ingesting. You won’t feel the effects until your body metabolizes the substance. An example of what NOT to do would be taking two shots, each five minutes apart, and thinking you’ll remain unaffected. Although you may feel “normal,” your BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) may be through the roof! Rule of thumb: if you forget how much you’ve drank, you’ve definitely had too much!
Coffee and Gatorade will be your “morning-after” BFF’s
First off, the only cure for a hangover is time. So, take it easy the day after a night out. You may feel tired, drowsy, foggy, etc. Drink anything that contains electrolytes! Gatorade, Powerade, or even Pedialyte are full of electrolytes and are great hangover helpers. You may not feel dehydrated, but your body definitely will be. The electrolytes in these drinks will help your body to retain water, resulting in quick rehydration, while also replenishing the salt and potassium your body lost due to alcohol consumption. For all you coffee lovers out there, coffee may not directly help restore any lost nutrients, BUT it will assist in combating fatigue! Take days like these (hopefully you won’t have homework) to relax and to watch Netflix in bed!
Sometimes, a hookup is just that…a hookup
However you define the term “hooking up,” all hook ups can be rather misleading. Sometimes they give off wrong impressions of a person or can leave behind unanswered questions. On the other hand, hookups can also be flirty, casual, and fun! If the intentions of either party involved do not align, however, definitely have an honest conversation after the fact. Boundaries and feelings should clearly be stated and respected when it comes to hooking up. Finally, if a hookup to you means having sex, always make sure to use protection and that it is a consensual act at all times!