Most students can agree that Cabrini is
a small school with relatively nothing to do on the weekends. We just do not have the same resources as bigger schools. But that is both positive and negative. So when it comes to finding things to do on the weekend, the usual easy outlet is drinking.
By spring semester of junior year most people are 21 and the scary excitement of getting caught drinking wears off and students start to think “what am
I gonna do after college?” Even though I am a resident assistant at Cabrini, I was still once a freshman going through the thr
ill of college parties, meeting new people and trying to stay out of trouble. So without further ado, I will share some advice on drinking from your friendly RA.
When I was a freshman at another college, drinking, partying and drugs were completely new to me. I went to a super small high school where I was pretty sheltered, so coming into an environment where this whirlwind of bad behaviors was normal was both sickening and exciting.
It did not take long to find out the hard way that parties are not the best atmosphere. The constant cycle of cops breaking up a house party, another girl drunk and crying about her boyfriend and the groping dude in the corner just seemed to lose its luster.
So I decided to try something new and became an RA my junior year and felt it was a good fit for me. It was an easy transition and one that really helped me to grow and find other ways to have fun. Now, I am not judging anyone who goes out on the weekend and has fun. We all know people drink, party and get crazy. It is college. It has become almost an initiation to go to a party. I am just stating the plain fact that eventually it gets old… Or at least it did for me.
Once I started creating better, more meaningful relationships with people who wanted more than just a hangover the next morning, I found myself really enjoying college. I connected with people in my major and I got serious about my life because NEWS FLASH: college ends one day. You have to start adult-ing at some point and this time, I am judging you if you continue to get black-out drunk every weekend once you graduate.
So basically what I am trying to say is, you are not a bad person for wanting to go out and have some fun, but here is the RA in me coming out: you must be safe. Both men and women get taken advantage of everyday on college campuses after a night of drinking. According to nsvrc.org, it is estimated that for every 1,000 women attending a college or university, there are 35 incidents of rape each academic year.
Just let that settle in. Someone you know, love or care about could have been sexually assaulted when they have been drunk. The biggest thing to understand is know your limit. You must be responsible because sometimes you can only count on YOU so understand how much is too much for your body.
My last piece of advice is to not get sucked into the never ]-changing cycle of drinking every weekend. Go out with friends into Philadelphia and hit up the magic gardens, find a cool off-beat coffee shop, pet strangers’ dogs in the streets and stop feeling like you are missing out on another Cabrini party. Because let’s face it: Cabrini parties are the same old thing. They will still be there every weekend beckoning for young freshman. But I promise you, once you go out and try to look for adventures such as paddle boarding on the Schuylkill, tasting amazing desserts at the Italian market festival or checking out the seasonal entertainment at Blue Cross river rink, you will see college in a fresh, new light.
