Contrary to popular belief, there are people who hate parties. 

I don’t mean birthday parties or that sort of celebration — specifically college parties. 

There’s nothing wrong with these parties, and everyone has the freedom to party as much as they want. But, I am the type of person that doesn’t like parties, simply from past experiences. I find them boring. 

Weekly, I hear stories of drunken people having fun and exercising their fake IDs, yet I’m not really drawn to the idea. I would go under the right circumstances, but I find myself trying to “fit in” when in reality I don’t feel inspired to.

I want to have fun, but I also don’t want to take part in the “recovery process” of partying all night. I don’t want to be in a room of drunk people who I don’t know from Adam. 

I’m a normal college kid in most ways, but I’m just not drawn to the party scene. 

The things I find unappealing about parties are probably reasons why other people find them appealing: I don’t like the feeling of being out of control, stressing out about how I’m getting home or fearing what the contents of my drink are. 

There are many more reasons why I don’t like parties, but these are the ones that scare me the most. 

When I tell people I don’t really enjoy parties, I get the same reaction. Every. Time. 

“Why? You’re in college, this is the time to have fun! You’re going to regret it later.”

Seriously, every time. 

I’m not a boring person and I don’t have some superior state of mind because I don’t party … I’m just a person who doesn’t enjoy it, and I try to have fun in other ways. 

Instead, I like to spend the night binge-watching TV shows, running to Target or going on a fun date with my boyfriend. 

Everyone has fun differently and I still have fun without going to a frat house. 

It can be so frustrating when people taunt me with “You’re going to regret it.” There’s a layer of judgment behind that, almost like it is superior to be blacked out every weekend. 

I don’t judge people who do or don’t party, but for everyone’s sake don’t make people feel bad for doing either. Yes, you’re in college and if you feel inclined to do so, go to a party, but if you don’t that’s OK too.

I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been to a party during college, and no, I don’t feel like I’m missing out. Just because you choose not to doesn’t mean anything, and it’s also normal to not want to do that. 

Regardless, spend your free time the way you want, and feel comfortable staying in.

Your time should be spent the way YOU want to spend it, without the criticisms of others.