We have all been there: it is Friday night, you have been slaving over homework all week and are itching to do something besides watch Netflix in bed. But what are your options?

After consulting your friends, you find them dressed to the nines, hyped up about the frat party they are attending that night. They urge you to join them and when you hesitate, they call you a “stick in the mud” or a “goody-goody.”

This happens much too often in today’s collegiate culture and stems from the stereotype of college students as party animals who are expected to get wasted and make monumental mistakes. Society portrays this behavior as an inevitable rite of passage, but in reality it is a lifestyle choice, albeit one that is certainly not for everyone.

According to a survey done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, almost 60 percent of college students ages 18-22 drank alcohol in the past month and two out of three of them engaged in binge drinking within the same time-frame.

College students, especially freshmen who are still adjusting to their newfound independence, need to be made aware of the perils of peer pressure and the fact that they have the power to make their own decisions.

Besides, there are a plethora of other things to do on the weekends in order to get a thrill or have a laugh. Wilmington, in particular, is a city that caters to the interests of young people and has adventure hiding around every corner.

Jordan Argueta, a computer science major at UNC Wilmington, prefers to get creative with his weekend outings and stay away from situations involving booze.

“Every Friday night, my friends and I try to have a movie night instead of going out,” Argueta said. “If we do go out, we do something like bowling or trips to the beach.”

Going to school in such close proximity to the beach provides a venue for students to hang out that is always open and does not cost one cent. In just a 10-minute drive, students can find themselves at Wrightsville Beach, a popular vacation spot with a charming atmosphere and a local vibe.

Carolyn Dougherty, a freshman at UNCW, is a frequent beach-goer who uses the seashore as a way to get away from the routine of campus life.

“During the day, I usually go off campus to study or go to the beach,” Dougherty said.

Although many students don’t mind going to the beach in the midst of winter and bundling up in a lifeguard stand, the biting wind can make it difficult to really enjoy the setting. Alexandra Griffin, a sophomore at UNCW, has no problem finding other fun activities to engage in during the cold season.

“I like to explore the different parts of Wilmington,” Griffin said. “For example, I like to go downtown and find cute shops and restaurants that are usually full of tourists, but are empty in the winter time.” 

Not only does irresponsible consumption impair your senses and put you at a greater risk of harm, but studies show that students who binge drink tend to perform poorly in the classroom. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in four students have reported suffering academically as a result of drinking.

Because of such consequences, it is important that college students are aware of the misleading expectations surrounding alcohol usage at universities. Students should never feel pressured into drinking, especially when there are so many other exciting adventures to take part in on the weekends.