Instead of attending the “party” college where all the kids go, I chose to go to another location that the university has a location that is geared more towards commuters.
I still live at home to save money
I do not attend parties
My university location doesn’t have a football team so I don’t go to games
I go to classes and study instead of partying
I choose to do things to better my degree and grades instead of going out
I never did all those things that one day I’ll look back on and regret like everyone else did
I have had the same girlfriend for years and never had another girl
I just feel like I’m boring. I only have one year left and I have nothing to show for it… I mean I do have pretty good grades, but I mean when I look back this is the time where everyone “made mistakes” and I haven’t made a single thing or had a funny memory. I have just studied and stayed around my home town unlike other kids that went to that party school, or lived on campus or etc…
Someone please tell me that I’m not boring and one day all this giving up the party stuff will pay off. The university I go to is just as big as the “party” version, but we are more commuter/graduate program/doctoral/research focused.
So what if you are boring. Many CEOs are. College is a place to get an education. You can have fun in your life without partying and womanizing. Besides, many aspects of partying aren’t too glamorous.
I don’t think you need to make mistakes to have fun in college. I’ve done fun stuff with friends, but nothing crazy or stupid. If you’re happy with what you’ve done, then you did college right. You had a different experience than others, doesn’t make it bad. If you feel like you’re missing out on something, try joining a group on campus or something, but ultimately the only way to do college wrong is to get kicked out, or fail out, in my opinion.
Part of the college experience for some is being rushed to the ER with alcohol poisoning. For many a BIG part of the college experience is a mountain of student loans. You seem to have “missed out” on both.
Honestly I think you sound holier-than-thou and you have a mistaken notion that things are very black and white–you are either studying or partying. When the majority of people are able to do both. Having a night out once in a while is probably a great way to enjoy in moderation and develop social skills that are also often necessary in life and work. And colleges that have great parties often also have great academics. I think it is very sad that you have to look down on these schools. And sadder if you think that to have a good time and create memorable times means making stupid or dangerous mistakes. I think it would be better for you to not be so sheltered, for your personal development. So while you are not likely going to be someone who inspires through charisma, you of course will be fine being boring as long as you are happy with that. I would have tried very hard to have a semester abroad or summer programs had I needed to stay at home for college, but in fact that is what most people do from necessity and even preference.
The college experience is really what you make of it. Adding to what BrownParent said, it’s also not a black and white thing… My experience, for example, was very outdoor oriented and atypical - lots of hiking, skiing, exploring old ghost towns, kayaking, mountain biking, and of course, studying. I had a great group of friends, and none of us were your stereotypical college partier types. We all got along well, did well academically, and had some great memories together. That was college for me… not just partying and studying. To be honest, if I had done just those two things, I would have been pretty miserable!
@BrownParent I think you’re being needlessly harsh. I think a lot of kids (especially College Confidential type kids) all think that focusing on academics 24/7 is the only way to do college, and then they learn in college to balance their time. I’ve done plenty of things that I didn’t think I’d do in college, it just takes some time.
I’m boring even though I could go to parties if I wanted to. I think the “college experience” is overrated, to be honest. Why would I pay tons of money to party? No, I’m there so that I can eventually get a job. I’ve heard the college experience (as defined by partying, sleeping around, etc.) described as “all the independence of adulthood without any of the responsibility.” Better to just be an adult. It’s good to have fun and spend time with friends, but fooling around with your education doesn’t gain you anything.