• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Campus life / My Experience Teetotaling Through College at a Party School

My Experience Teetotaling Through College at a Party School

July 15, 2020 //  by Erika LeFlouria

Share1FacebookTweet

Imagine a crowded garage with a random stripper pole in the center, “No Flockin” by Kodak Black is blasting in your ear and then you hear someone in the corner of the room say “No. Sorry, I don’t drink.” Record scratch. That’s me. I’m the one who turns down a drink in the middle of Florida’s actual national anthem. To me, college means so much more than beer pong and blacking out. To me, your sober moments will the best moments. For religious reasons, I do not, have not and will not drink alcohol. I have yet to be shaken or tempted from my faith but that doesn’t make turning down a part of college deemed “normal” any less hard.

I go to Florida State University and like most big schools, partying is a big part of the culture.

sober girl at a college party
unsplash.com

If you are a teetotaler like me, know that there is nothing wrong with you or your decision not to drink, whether it be for religion, addiction history or just because you hate the taste.

Tallahassee’s known as the epitome of a college town. With Tallahassee Community College, Florida A&M and Florida State all within city limits, the bars here are for everyone. Except me. Just like many big D1 college towns–party culture in Tallahassee means White Trash Wednesday, Derd’s Day (RIP) and Pot’s Purgatory. True tailgates mean blacking out at the pregame and then not even making it to Doak.

Nothing beats showing up to a party with people drinking and you are forced to make up a ridiculous excuse to leave. I mean, my unemployed 19-year-old self really ditched an alcohol-heavy kick-back in 10 minutes with the excuse of me having to “go to work in the morning” and guess what, I’d do it again. In my eyes, nothing beats waking up on a Saturday morning at 8 a.m. ready to start the day without a hangover headache.

Nothing beats the sober late-night convos with friends about the horrors of our hometowns while eating disgusting chicken nuggets with Burger King paper crowns on our heads.

friends sitting in nyc
unsplash.com

The decision not to drink can be a tough one. When I first came to college, I was scared to tell people that I will not be drinking at any function so I would avoid all invites where I knew I would have to tell my secret. Eventually, with the right friends, I became more comfortable with the reactions I would get. Let’s be honest–when you are sober in college don’t expect to get invited to many frat parties or wild stories from the night before. To some people, your college experience will be viewed as just plain boring, which can be hurtful.

In my head, I often questioned whether I was actually living college “to the fullest” because everyone else was drinking and they looked like they were having fun. However, deep down, I knew I was having fun being sober. My definition of fun included movie nights, long drives and beach days. At the end of the day, I will never regret following my faith and not drinking. I feel good about myself and my life-long decision enough to now not care what others think.

It may have taken me two years to find out that college has no blueprint to the perfect experience, but I am glad I know now.

dancing in the kitchen alone
tenor.com

Start saying “no.” If you know attending a certain party will make you uncomfortable, say “no.” If your “friends” keep pressuring you, say “no.” Find people who don’t get offended when you choose not to drink. Find people you love to be sober with, but most importantly, enjoy your own company. Some nights when everyone goes out, you need to be your own best friend.

Share1FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Campus life Party

About Erika LeFlouria

Born and raised in Tennessee, Erika is a Media and Communication Studies major at Florida State University. She is a traveler, writer, and avid sports fanatic.

You May Also Like

ucla royce

10 Resources All Student Artists at UCLA Should Know About

10 Virtual Ways to Make Friends in College Without Joining Greek Life

The Ultimate Guide to the Sorority President Life at St. John’s University

Dismantling the System: Diversifying Your Narrative at a PWI

10 Ways UC Irvine Students Cope with Senioritis (Covid-19 Edition)

Interview with St. John’s University SGI President Roger Guevara

The Happiest Campus: A Student’s Guide to Auburn University 

Top 21 Things to Do Prior to Graduating St. John’s University

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

10 Easy Ways to Make Sure Your Spring Semester Doesn’t Suck

A Gator’s Bucket-List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating From UF

the receptionist

A Conversation with the Receptionist

best classes

10 Best Classes You Need to Take at Drake University

St Salvators Quad image

My Hate/Love Relationship With My Joint Degree Program

College students walking

Becoming a Chameleon at Other College Campuses

And Suddenly, I Found Myself Living With a Stranger

Top 10 Safest Colleges and Campuses in the United States

CampusLife_sm

CM’s Top 10 Schools Doing Residential Life Right

colleges for future philanthropists

Live to Give: Top 10 Colleges for Future Philanthropists

Top 10 COVID-19 Safe Activities to Do Near Fresno, California

One Girl and a Whole World: What I Learned from My International Friends

fog

10 Reasons Why Bennington College Is the Quirkiest College

crim dell bridge

10 Signs That You’re a True TWAMP: Typical William & Mary Person

10 Tech Gifts to Make Zoom University That Much Easier

Previous Post: «tea in the bathub How I’ve Kept Myself Sane During Quarantine
Next Post: Starting a Side Hustle in College: Five Steps You Need to Take starting a side hustle»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

dancing dreams
60

Saying Goodbye to My Dreams of Dancing

50

Stargazing in the Sand: My Trip to Terlingua, Texas

42

How My Childhood Bully Followed Me to College

9

Top 10 Covid-19 Safe Spots to Explore Near UCLA

Brass-colored 21 foil balloons inside a room.
8

10 Spots to Celebrate Your 21st Birthday Near UCLA

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.