Picture this: It is Friday night at my favorite place in the world, SLU. Your friend walks up to you in Dana and asks if you are going out tonight.

What images enter your mind when your friend says the words “going out?” I imagine my friend group pre-gaming and going out to Java, the townhouses or any of the fun places to be on this great campus.

But I digress. The term “going-out” unfortunately is often accompanied by the assumption that you will be drinking alcohol, lots of it, and therefore implying that having a good time requires drinking.

I know it’s an assumption that is not always true, but I am going to tell a story and I challenge you to think of a similar experience you have had.

I walked into Fall-Fest after I was checked by the security guard at the entrance for alcohol or drugs.

I was sober. I danced and sang and ran around like the crazy person I am because I loved all the songs B.o.B. played. I came across many friends at the concert and unfortunately a lot of them seemed to be not enjoying themselves fully because they wished they had more to drink.

Maybe you have a friend who’s reached this conclusion before, or maybe you have felt this way yourself. It runs something along the lines of “I will not have a good time tonight if I am not drunk.”

Or maybe you have reached the inverse conclusion: “I will have a good time tonight because I will be drunk.”

It fascinates me why college students tend to conform to the idea that alcohol guarantees a good time. This assumption really limits your ability to find what truly makes you happy.

By assuming that alcohol will make you happy, you could potentially miss out on the many different wonderful things you could enjoy on a college weekend.

Conforming to the social norm of excessive drinking can limit your search for happiness before it is fully found and harnessed.
I am not arguing against all forms of social conformity. As a senior at SLU, I have been to my fair share of parties, concerts and athletic events where alcohol was most certainly involved. I am just saying that you should not conform to social norms if the norms are not conducive to your happiness.

The next Friday night you are going out with your friends, I challenge you to have the best time you have ever had.

Do what makes you happy. If it is not drinking alcohol, then do not drink alcohol. If it is, then by all means do it.

My final word is not to worry about conforming, but just worry about your happiness. Figure out what happiness is to you and chase after it at all times.