By Victoria Campbell
Students who binge drink at least three times per week are six times more likely to perform worse in studies as reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The reality of college can be mistaken for partying.
Financially, partying can rob your pockets by making you buy alcohol and party clothes. It can also lead to missing classes and handing in assignments late.
Going out occasionally is one thing, but getting in the mindset of drinking and going out Thursday to Sunday is another.
FOMO — fear of missing out — is a curse in college. Everyone wants to fit in socially and be accepted. While having friends is essential, it is not worth the price of failing classes.
At SUNY Plattsburgh, each semester without financial aid costs up to $26,000; with help, it can still be thousands of dollars. College can be a big financial risk, as you must pay back any loans you take out and graduate, hopefully with a job lined up.
A big struggle in college is keeping up with work and maintaining good grades. According to Carter Mosher, a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh, the college experience can be ruined by multiple factors.
“Partying while still getting all of your work done and keeping your mental health in check is the ideal approach,” Mosher said. “Half of my freshman suite ended up failing out of college because of poor management when it came to getting work done and partying. It just depends on the individual.”
Mosher parties just about every weekend, and while his suitemates failed out, he still managed to get his work done. People who can’t do that should prioritize their academics, Mosher said.
Partying should be more of a reward for students, if they decide to participate. A substantial reason students might fall behind or end up on academic probation is not knowing when to stop or how to prioritize.
FOMO can cause emotional distress for some, so partying might stem from those fears rather than wanting to go out. Mosher has made some of the best college memories while partying with his friends and his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon.
“Partying is not for everyone, and that’s okay,” Mosher said. “Forcing yourself (to party) should not be a worry.”
According to The Haven at College, an outpatient recovery program aimed at young adults, partying constantly can impact your liver and cause kidney damage. This also leads to depending on drugs or alcohol, sometimes both. Therefore, it can affect your mental health if it progresses to addiction.
While too much partying can lead to negative consequences, finding a balance between academics and blowing off steam is key.
