Dear Features,
Hello Features! Something that has been bothering me lately is the issue of “drinking.” I am a freshman, and by no means should I be drinking. But it seems to be the trend. All my friends from high school have been going to parties ― you know, twerking and grinding like crazy. Every single time we hung out during breaks or something, they would be talking about “being poisoned by vodka” or “getting high off of Mary Jane.” And I am not entirely sure how to respond. Do I laugh with them? Do I drink with them? I mean, we’re in college already, so we deserve to have the college experience right? What’s wrong with a few shots here and there?
Sincerely,
Confused Sober
Dear Confused Sober,
Hi there! I am so glad that you have shared your concerns over the social doctrine of drinking. And I am a freshman myself! I am fully aware of the social pressure to have fun and relish in the college experience. One dogma that I always stick to, which my parents have always told me, is that if I feel uneasy about something, then I should never do it. Essentially, I should always be 100 percent confident about my choices. I definitely understand the social pressure that you are going through. I also have friends who are 100 percent okay with having a few shots here and there and going to parties to “grind” and “twerk.” The truth of the matter is: People change. Therefore, will you support your friends throughout their journeys or judge and disdain their actions? Personally, I laugh with my friends, but I also ask that whenever they are around me that they do not get drunk. I voice my concerns that drinking too much alcohol is harmful to the body and that I deeply care about them. Instead of judging them, I stand by their side and ensure their safety. And there is nothing wrong with trying new things — as long as you are fully aware of the consequences. Do you know your limits? Can you control yourself? For me, I love trying alcohol, which means tasting certain drinks; I am not doing it to get drunk but rather to see what the fuss is about. In fact, I have tried drinks such as moscato and chardonnay; they didn’t taste as sweet as I expected — a bit bitter actually. But I had to limit myself when my friends told me my face was glowing or when I felt my heart racing. At the end of the day, I knew I didn’t want to get drunk and so I controlled myself — but at the same time, I lived a little. Life is about experiences. Would you want to live your life being a hermit and not going out or trying new things? By no means am I saying that you should go out and get yourself extremely drunk for the #YOLO experience. Rather, I am saying that there are so many opportunities in the world and how you enjoy the world is based on how you approach it. It is also important to note that in the pursuit of such experiences, you should not forget your values. Always remember your values that make up who you are. Treasure your uniqueness. If you want to go through college without having tried certain drinks, then so be it. That is who you are. Never let anyone or anything persuade you otherwise. In the end, it is your core values that decide the choices that you make. So choose wisely.
Sincerely,
Daniel Tsai
For purely entertainment purposes, all anonymous writers to this section are completely fictional and any and all resemblances to real people are purely coincidental.
