College was not what I expected. But that’s okay because I like what I have now rather than what I thought I was going to have. In my high school years, leading up to my freshman year of college, I was a very reserved person. Granted, I still am a very reserved person, but I am getting better. 

I thought the second I got to college, it was going to be exactly like high school, with the same routine of getting up, going to class, going to work and ending the day in bed. I was very wrong. I never took into account just how much freedom I would have after moving out. Of course, I knew I was now going to have the liberty of wearing whatever I wanted and not having to ask permission for anything. I just didn’t think there was going to be much to go out and do. 

Less than a week into college, I found friends, which was quicker than expected. With my new found freedom, my friends and I started staying out later, finding new things to do around Florence like hanging out at Mcfarland Park or getting coffee at River Town. Then came the discovery of frats and On the Rocks. 

Before college, the closest thing I had come to a party was a Halloween party of six at my friends’ house. So, as you can guess, my first frat party threw me for a loop with loud music, a huge crowd of people and barely any room to move my arms. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go back and wait until I could chase that feeling again. 

That was when I found out about College Night at On the Rocks, and for several weeks straight, it became a part of my Thursday night routine, which always messed up my Friday productivity. I ended up skipping my Friday classes without a care in the world. 

Then, I started finding other functions to attend on other days of the week. I started this cycle where I stayed out late and slept through my classes and didn’t seem to care. Without anyone keeping me in check, I, in a way, got out of hand. 

I have since had a moment of realization and have started cutting back on the partying. Attempting to remember why exactly I am here. Going out every night is fun and all, but so is finishing my degree, and I shouldn’t need anyone keeping me in check but myself. I say all this to say that college is going to be different from what you may think. You’re gonna get scared and freaked out and maybe a little carried away. I am not saying never go out, but having a balance that fits you is necessary. Starting your first year of college is never a good move. 

To the people who never went out in high school, my best piece of advice is to have self discipline, because you do not want to end up moving back home.