Alcohol, sex, drugs. All of these things are more evident when you come to college. They are all surrounded by a cloud of pressure, guilt, pleasure and uncertainty. It is safe to say that while attending school, you will be faced with the decision to try these things, and you may be wondering what to expect and what to do.
This can be said for all of them; try them on your own terms. I know it’s hard to say no in front of friends, and people you want to make an impression on, but after all that is over you are the one stuck with the decision you made, so make sure you make one you will be proud of or at least not regret.
We have all heard the “true friends won’t pressure you” speech and while it’s cliché, it is also true. If you are not ready to try any of these things — don’t. Your friends really won’t care the next day, and if they do they’re not good friends, because really your decision doesn’t affect them at all.
Alcohol is probably one thing you’ve tried before college, but if you haven’t there is a lot to consider before just doing it and getting more intoxicated than you had planned.
First of all, think of the legal repercussions. If you’re not 21, sorry, but drinking is illegal for you and Otterbein cops will not hesitate to take you to court if you get caught. You can also get whoever gave you the alcohol in major legal trouble. So this decision doesn’t only affect you.
Being drunk might be fun sometimes, but not all the time. No one likes to wake up with a hangover and regrets. Do you think your friends wanted to put their night of fun on hold, because they had to carry you back to your room, then hold the trash can still while you throw up for three hours straight? No.
Alcohol is also one of the most abused substances in America and has proven to be unhelpful on many occasions. So think hard about just how much alcohol you want to drink before binge drinking your way into oblivion.
Drugs are a bit more of a serious matter. Everyone talks about how great pot is and while its side effects are said to make you much calmer, sometimes they have adverse effects. Weed makes some people very anxious and paranoid which can lead to anxiety attacks.
No one wants to have to take you to the hospital or merely calm you down when they themselves are high. If you choose to try pot, my advice is to take it slow. Feel out what the drug does to your body before you take too much and end up regretting it.
Another thing to keep in mind about drugs is that if it’s not pot, it’s addictive. Not everyone has addictive personalities, but some do. If you know you have an addictive personality, just say no. Unless you’d like to end up on “Intervention” with your life in the toilet and a dependence on something that isn’t only illegal, but fatal.
If you don’t have an addictive personality, that very well could change the second you choose to try drugs. You may not realize you’re addicted and that’s when things really go downhill.
There is a reason the air in the room changes when highly addictive drugs are being taken and that reason is your conscience. Listen to it. It will save you a lot of future problems and you can still enjoy your college experience without them.
Always keep in mind that no matter how much you think what you’re doing with drugs is innocent and not bothering anyone else, they are still against the law and carry big consequences with them.
Sex is another touchy subject. Sex is something that is absolutely no one else’s business but you and the person you are doing it with.
While there are safe ways to have sex, that doesn’t help with the decision on whether or not to do it. It’s one of those things that only you know you’re ready for.
Deciding whether or not to have sex has many clichés that come along with it; the risks, the mental strain and the excuses. The risks are huge and some of them change your life forever. Although you think it won’t happen to you, it very well could.
The mental strain of deciding whether or not to have sex is excruciating. There is so much racing through your head and you can’t seem to sort it all out in to a decision that makes sense and one that you are 100% happy with.
If all these things are running through your head, you’re probably not ready. You’ll know you’re ready when you and your partner have mutual agreements about it, you feel calm about it and you trust who you’re doing it with.
Should you make a rash decision in the heat of a three minute long period in your bed with your partner, you could regret it. So make sure it’s something you’ve thought through completely. And just to reiterate the most cliché thing people say about sex — BE SAFE. Use a condom or get on birth control and make sure you and your partner are clean before making any decisions at all.
In conclusion, the decisions you make are your own. You have to live with the decision, the regret and everything else that comes along with whatever you choose to do. It’s not stupid to do research, and it has never hurt anyone to be smart about the topic.
Weighing the cost of being a student
