On any given weekend, I'd much rather spend my nights eating cereal on my couch and binging on my latest Netflix addiction. In those moments, the thought of going downtown to drink repulses me on a level similar to going to the dentist.
But that's what people in this town do.
Picture this: it's 9:30 on a Friday night. You've abandoned shoes and pants for an oversized t-shirt and a bowl of Froot Loops. You're well into a happy TV coma when suddenly, your phone lights up. It's your BFFs, and they're all out at Skybar, furiously texting you to come get your drink on with them.
Some people might jump at the chance to go out and party with friends, and that's okay. You do you. But let me do me, too, and say no.
It's not that I don't like my friends. It's not that I don't enjoy a beer or two every now and then. I just don't like bars--especially the overcrowded, sweaty, loud ones in downtown Auburn.
I don't like the music. I don't like dancing. I'm not a big fan of crowds, and I'd like to be able to carry on a conversation with my friends. Five minutes of fruitless yelling into each other's ear only to nod and smile and pretend we had any clue what was said doesn't count as conversation.
Whenever I go out I come home with a thinner wallet, a pounding headache and usually the disdain of my friends because I left too early.
I don't understand why college students are expected to like this stuff.
I don't get why I'm seen as some kind of lame, prudish outlier for not.
If I'm hanging out with someone, it's because I want to spend time with them. I want to hear their thoughts and have a conversation without having to scream over the newest misogynistic rap song or maneuver around sweaty, wasted couples grinding in odd contortions on the dance floor.
Not to mention being a girl is like a crime at the bar, where the punishment is having random drunk guys groping your ass and trying to sleep with you.
Sorry, no, I'm not going to put myself in those situations.
I'm not interested in being hollered at or having my personal space invaded. I'm not interested in paying way too much for some watered down drink I could make at home. I don't need to feel like I'm partying like a celebrity.
And that's okay.
But until my fellow students start treating it like it's okay, I'm going to keep ignoring your texts and pretending to be asleep.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
