I live in California and I plan on attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in the fall. I have heard it has a big reputation on being a huge party school. I have become very anxious over the past few weeks because I have never gone to a high school party before. I’ve only ever had a couple of sips of alcohol and I’ve never used drugs before. I have friends who are in the party scenes but I’ve never actually gone to one. Will I have a tough time making friends because I am very inexperienced with parties and alcohol? Should I try to start to get into that life in the last months of high school or should I just wait until college to party?
You don’t need to start drinking in high school so you will be ready for college parties. There will be a lot of people at your college who are just like you.
No, don’t worry about it. You’ll have a roommate and people from your dorm that you’ll go with, and you’ll just hang out and have fun. No need to drink if you don’t want to.
You can request Honors, Global Connections, FYRE, or Health&Wellness housing and partially or totally avoid that scene. MANY students at Miami don’t drink and many drink socially but find binge drinking stupid.
Some things to do and not do when you go to parties:
DO
always go with someone and make an advance pact that you don’t leave each other there no matter what (if there’s a hookup in your future, exchange phone numbers)
ask around about the “wild” parties as well as the “unsafe” hourses - go to “normal” parties in “safe” houses (even a normal college party is quite wild to start with)
watch beer pong before you play
carry your own nonalcoholic beverage in a bottle and say “No thanks, I’m good”, pointing at the bottle
DON’T
“go upstairs” with someone, always stay in the common area
accept a drink someone gives you
drink more than 1 drink per hour (that includes jello shots)
make a decision while drunk
As someone who attends a high school, which has had a lot of drug and alcohol substance abuse in the past, there are many people who do not like or wish to partake in this. I am sure there are people at Miami who are just like you. It may take time, but there will be similar people to you if you look around. Everyone in this thread has stated lots of good advice, and I agree with all of them.
Have a good day!
Ok, not EVERYONE at your college will be into partying. There will be plenty of people who might carry around a cup all night with soda or water because they just want to fit in. You do not have to get hammered to have fun. By all means, ask your parents if you can have a glass of wine or a beer every now and then, just to know how it makes you feel while you are in a safe place.
You should 100% NOT try to learn how to “party” in your last few months of high school. If your grades fall, you can be rescinded. I promise you on my word that you don’t have to drink and do drugs to have fun. It’s quite concerning that you assume you must do these things. The fact that it’s making you anxious is also a red flag. Seek out weekend actvivites that don’t involve drinking. There will be plenty at your college.
No one HAS to party to have fun in college. By all means, go to parties and experiment, but also understand that it’s acceptable to just carry a soda around in a cup. What you shouldn’t do is decide to drink four beers at your first party, when you have no experience drinking. You will feel horrible the next day, trust me. Start slow, and know your limits.
You don’t have to learn how to party at all. College can be enjoyable without partying. You can also go to parties without drinking and doing drugs.