Believe it or not, I don’t need alcohol to have fun

When people hear that I am a college student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, they automatically assume that I’m into drinking and having a good time. Yes, I love having a good time, but no, I do not drink.

When I tell people that I don’t drink, they look at me with complete confusion. I’m not twenty-one, but we all know that drinking is a large part of the college culture regardless of a student’s age. I often get asked “Why?” immediately after telling them that I don’t drink. I respond to them by saying that I don’t want to and that I don’t really need alcohol to have fun.

BOOM. As soon as I say I don’t need booze to have fun, they ask me if I can even have fun. The answer? Yes.

ON WISCONSIN!!!!! GAME DAYS ARE THE BEST DAYS

I have had more fun in my past two years of college than I have in my entire life, and I have been 100 percent sober the entire time. I can guarantee you that I am always the last one on the dance floor “dougie”ing, I’m the one singing my heart out to Justin Bieber with no cares in the world, and I’m the one who gives hugs out to people I barely know or even just met without a drop of alcohol in my system.

Going out on the frozen Lake Mendota in MARCH

Then comes the next question: “Oh, so you hate people that do drink?” The answer? No. Not at all.

See, here’s the thing. We all make decisions and these decision are our own. We have to decide for ourselves what is best for us. No one else can make that choice for other people.

Some of the nicest, smartest, and kindest people that I know will change the world some day like to drink. In fact, they love to drink. And is that going to change the way I feel about them? No, not at all. You can bet that I still love them with my entire heart.

Hanging with some of my sweet sorority sisters!

Yes, there are times when people drink too much and could probably make some better decisions, but I’m not there to look down on them. That’s not my place. I’m there to be their friend and make sure that they are safe and on the right track to getting back on their feet for the night. I don’t like to play babysitter as much as the next person, but if someone needs help, I’ll be there.

Then people usually say “Oh, good for you, waiting until you’re 21.”

Nope, that’s not it either. I have no desire to drink. Not now, not when I’m 21 or not when I’m 101.

Right after I sobbed through some of One Direction’s songs because I was so in love with them at their concert in Milwaukee

But that’s one thing  I wish some people could see. It’s not a character flaw that I don’t drink or that I don’t want to. It shouldn’t define what other people think of me. It’s just not a part of who I am. And that’s okay.

There are still people that offer me drinks when they know I don’t want them. But hey, that’s just life.

You can bet that I show up to parties with Capri-Suns and Kool-aid jammers in hand ready to show the world the sober person that I am.

13.1 IS DONE

So when people say that no drinking = no fun? I have but one correction to make.

No drinking = so fun.