Imagine a cold winter night, the snow is falling and ice covers the roads in a thick sheet. Court Street is bustling with excited young adults ready to take on the night. You get in your finest halter top and mini skirt, prepared to allow that liquid blanket of courage to warm you up, instead of a coat.
You are on your way to the bars when the bitter cold bites you, and you suddenly crave the warmth of your couch back at your apartment. With free will, you could always go home, but your friends want you to stay out, wanting you to spend money in overcrowded bars with overconfident men. They want you to brave the cold with them.
We are here to say: girl, go home.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is real, and it kills. For some, college is a time to go out every weekend and party, but for others, it can be a stressor. The pressure to have the “college experience” is heavy, especially at a school known for its parties, like Ohio University. However, when money is tight, or you just don’t want to go, that is OK. Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t want to do because in reality, Court Street will still be there for you when you’re ready to brave it.
Going out isn’t bad; in fact, it can be really fun and a great way to get out of your shell. You should enjoy spending time with your friends, although there are times when you need a night in, and you should never feel guilty for that.
Additionally, conditioning yourself to give in to peer pressure could lead to bad habits. We are familiar with peer pressure, as it was taught to us as though imminent doom was heading our way in the form of a shot or a joint passed around, and we would immediately drop dead if we took it. Although sometimes it can be fun to join in, you don’t have to.
According to Nadia Matta from the Addiction Center, nearly 40% of college students engage in binge drinking, and roughly 45% have abused drugs. Party culture is prevalent in college, and some students may feel that they aren’t reaching their full college potential without partaking. However, if they aren’t ready to know their boundaries and be comfortable saying no, it can become dangerous quickly.
Research has shown that drinking can cause an increase in the risk of sexual assault and risk-taking activities that could sometimes result in death. This is not to say that all partying is bad. Everyone deserves to let loose and have a good time, but you must know your limits and allow yourself to say no, without guilt. According to a study by OnePoll, 69% of Americans experience FOMO. If you have experienced this, you are not alone.
As college students, we are painfully aware of this fear. It seems as if all the juicy events happen when you’re not there, but in hindsight, it doesn’t. Deciding to say no to a party now and then doesn’t mean there won’t be an abundance of parties to attend in the future.
We often have trouble getting the courage to go out or even stay out after an hour or so. Sometimes the bars can be overwhelming, crowded and overall not worth the discomfort. We put on our best look and spend hours getting ready, but once the clock strikes 11 p.m., you can bet that we will glance at each other and, without saying a word, we know it’s time to go home.
There are other times we don’t even make it out of the house before deciding it’s not worth the time. The key is finding someone with the same tolerance as you, so you’re never alone when you want to stay out or go home.
It’s OK for your friends to be a little disappointed in your lack of presence at the bars, but they should never be mad at you. The college years are full of complicated relationships, building boundaries, breaking boundaries and learning to prioritize yourself. If your friends can’t understand that, then that is their own internal issue to deal with.
It’s important to allow yourself to have fun. If you want to go out and have a night on the town, then you should. The decision is up to you and you alone. Therefore, we regret to inform you, free will is yours, sit on the couch –or don’t. It doesn’t really matter.
Need advice? Email us at as015023@ohio.edu or ah300723@ohio.edu to be featured in our next column.
Alaina Sayre and Amelia Henson are both sophomores studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Alaina & Amelia about their column? Email them at as015023@ohio.edu or ah300723@ohio.edu
