College: living it up vs. locking it down

As a college student, I feel like I'm constantly struggling to find a balance between living it up and having a good time with my friends, and doing things that are going to benefit me in the long run.  People say that college is the only time you'll ever have to live with virtually no responsibilities, be surrounded by your friends 24/7, and drink to the verge of alcoholism with it being acceptable.  They say to take advantage of it, to enjoy it, because you'll never get those four years back.  But, I ask you, isn't this also a vital time to be preparing for your life after college ends?  Isn't this a time to be buckling down on the classes you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a year?  Isn't this a time to be getting jobs and finding internships so you know what career path you want to pursue?


I've taken both paths in college.  I've partied four nights a week.  I've had great times going out with my friend, regardless of whether it's a weekend or not, getting drunk, letting loose, and making memories.  I've stayed up all night dancing at clubs (when I have an 8 a.m. class the next morning) and made out with boys that I'll never again see.  Actually, I didn't even know their last names.  And, yes, while that was fun, I wasn't truly happy.

The constant partying and "fun", actually leads to a whole lot of not-fun things: being constantly tired and looking and feeling crappy are just a couple.  I didn't feel my best because I wasn't doing anything actually productive for my life.  When I made a change and decided to live healthier, make school my top priority, get a job, and keep my mind on my future, that's when I began to feel fulfilled.  Yes, I'm not having as much "fun".  A lot of weekends I'll stay in now to catch up on my sleep and homework.  Yes, I get jealous watching my friends go out, get wasted, and tell hilarious stories the next morning.  But, I know that in the long run, I'm doing things that are going to benefit me and the quality of my life.  And there's nothing better than that.

It takes discipline to resist the temptation to be spontaneous, screw your responsibilities, and enjoy being young.  It's all too easy to get sucked into the college lifestyle of partying, sleeping in late, and eating Domino's every other meal.  But, when you buckle down and start making life choices that will benefit you in the future, that's when you truly learn something about yourself.  You'll start accomplishing things you never thought possible.  You'll see all the areas of your life falling into place. And, it'll get easier and easier.  A great work ethic comes from practice.  It's absolutely, 100% worth it to work hard now because you will reap the benefits later.