I was eating lunch with a group of new friends in Newcomb dining hall at the beginning of last semester when they asked me the question that never fails to fill me with anxiety — “Do you want to go out with us this weekend?” The bite of pizza I took just before hardened in my mouth as stress stripped me of any appetite. After a few moments of awkward silence and hesitant chewing, I admitted that I had never gone out before. Their eyes widened and heads tilted, clearly wondering how I — a college student — had never been to a party.
Partying has never been my “thing.” I come from a small town in Northern Virginia where most people my age spend their weekends shopping at what I’m certain is the world’s smallest mall or driving to a nearby city just to find something to do. In high school, the “popular” kids threw house parties, but my friends and I were never a part of their friend group. Ultimately, I turned out to be a 20-year-old non-partier.
Don’t get me wrong. I have fun — just not in the way that other students might expect. My version of fun involves watching movies with friends and hosting intimate game nights, not going to frats or drinking alcohol like several of my peers. There is a simplicity to my college experience that I enjoy greatly and hardly ever regret. Still, whenever the topic of partying comes up, I feel embarrassed to admit that I don’t go out…