Okay, before I start I just want to say that this isn’t one of those inspirational, go get-‘em type posts that will have you rearin’ go out and party. This is a summary of the two times I went out this weekend, and I figured that I haven’t written a FR in over three months, so it’s my duty to get back into seddit and participate.

So, night one, two of my roommates decide to head out with a friend to a frat for rush week and to get some food. Me, deciding that I need some male friends headed out with them. I walk around a bit, and end up smoking hookah with a few people. I do what I can to have a good time, and end up leaving after things slowed down. I came back later for the party. Right at the beginning, I got smashed at slapcup, and proceed to spend the rest of the night having a good time trying to talk to people. After complaining about having too much to drink but still wanting to hold something, a guy suggested that I get some water. He showed me to the sink and I thanked him for my drink source for the rest of the night. On the way out, someone smiles and asks me my name. Maybe I’ll get a bid after all, even though I have no clue about frats on my campus. I tell them my name and go out and smoke with a few guys on the porch before heading home and sleeping.

The next day, I find a group of my high school friends at the football game. They were already drunk and decided the game was going to suck and we left after the fourth quarter. We hang in one of their dorm rooms until night time when we head out. We start out at one of their sisters’ parties. Not much was going on so we bounced to another friends’ brothers’ parties. We chill there for a bit and talk. I really didn’t get on with any of the people there, unfortunately. Still, not a bad time. We get a hold of some alcohol and take a few swigs before heading back to the original party. Things are picking up, and although I didn’t get anywhere with any girls, I got myself to grab a few girls’ hands go hold them in the air while dancing. We head home after a good night and go to sleep.

Today is where the shit hit the fan. Some of my roommates had a few friends over, and me, trying to be friendly as always, came in and sit down. This usually feels awkward and a bit forced, and to be honest I think it’s a bit beta because I wasn’t doing what I wanted but instead following the group. Anyways, the topic turned to frats and one guy mentions that the president of the frat we were at the other night offered to have dinner with him. Well fuck, I was nowhere near that close with them. I still wonder what he did that I didn’t, but it’s cool, I’m no cassanova yet and I’m alright with that. Me, having no idea how any of that works, asked how people know if they have a bid for a frat. The friend gives me a look and says that they get in contact with you, and if you haven’t gotten anything by now, you haven’t gotten in. He then tells a few stories about how some of the frats he rushed had trouble trying to find him. Fuck. I didn’t even know what frats there were let alone which to rush.

After a bit more conversation, he turns to me and says, “Hey, the next time you go to a frat, you shouldn’t get the president to get you some water.” Wait, the fuck? He was the president? As it turns out, although I felt fine, I walked around the party with my eyes half closed while mumbling some weird shit. People were scared and the president of the frat decided to get me some water. I seriously felt like shit after hearing that. I start packing up to go study, and on my way out I say, “Thanks for telling me that, I guess you don’t really know how you act when you’re drunk. I felt great that night.” I get out, close the door and hear a bunch of laughter. I listen in a bit and hear them mock me.

So my roommates feel like I’m weird, I made an ass of myself at a respectable frat, and I have no idea how social dynamics work at a college. Instead of going to study, I founda quiet place to sit for a bit. Now I blame being in between the nerd that I was and where I hope to be. I think I'm doing what I should, but I'm not socially calibrated.

I texted one of the guys from the second night and kind of summarized what happened. He responded with “Don’t worry man, it’s college, they see that shit all the time.” Damn, exactly what I needed to cheer me up about being too drunk. Then, after complaining about my roommates not being as good of friends as I thought, I get the text “I guess they’re little bitches then.” Holy shit. I don’t have to be friends with my roommates. I’m allowed to decide that I don’t like people. I have to give everyone a chance to be friends, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dislike them. That was a boundary I never drew before. If a relationship with someone panned out badly, instead of disliking them, I kind of sighed and said I would work on it.

Basically, I feel better since the party still isn’t the stupidest thing that I have done in my life, I already talked to a few girls so the world doesn’t hate me, and this type of shit hasn’t kept me down as long as it would have a year ago. Also, I need to learn about sports. Confusing as fuck for me, but I hear about them every day and can’t join the conversation. In conclusion:

tl;dr: Went to two parties, had a good time, but got too drunk at one and scared people. Roommates think I'm weird.

Morals:

  • Go have a good time, get over it if you make an idiot of yourself

  • Admit if you don’t like someone and stop trying to keep them in your life

  • Know who your good friends are

Questions (not pickup):

  • Any tips for making new friends at college? I can’t seem to build up my social circle beyond what came over from high school

  • How do I learn sports? I suck at names

  • How do I figure out frats? My roommates get it, but… uh, look at the post

  • Any tips on drinking responsibly?