Back when I was a freshman two years ago I spent the majority of my time in my residence hall studying or staring at my wall. Lame, huh?
This year, however, I finally moved off campus and made an attempt to be more active and outgoing. I certainly have, but I still make sure I live a balanced life. I no longer spend five hours a night studying for 100-level classes, but I do take my schoolwork seriously enough to get good grades.
During my junior year I have made a lot of friends. As you progress in your major at Ball State University, it is easier to meet people in upper-level classes that share your interests than in a class like Astronomy 100. Take advantage of it.
If you are a freshman or sophomore I encourage you to get involved early and make friendships. Whether it is joining a club or doing something weekly with your friends, it goes a long way in making your college career less miserable.
I, for example, go out with eight to 10 of my friends every Thursday night to Buffalo Wild Wings. Afterwards, we go to someone's house and watch "The Office." I like this because it gets me away from my regular life at school that usually gets monotonous by Tuesday afternoon.
What makes these types of events work is self-control. I don't hang out with my friends every night nor do I go out to eat every night. Instead, I do so in moderation.
Since I turned 21 in January, I have had the chance to visit a few local bars in the Village. I have encountered the drunks stumbling to leave the bar and the people who take shot after shot until they eventually pass out.
While I recognize that these individuals may do whatever they like, I have never understood those who get drunk three times a week, and the whole process of getting plastered only takes an hour. So, when is there time to have fun?
I think having too much fun in excess can actually hurt you. It can either make what you do not as fun or quite literally boring. But, if you have fun in moderation it lasts a lot longer.
As a freshman and sophomore, I rarely went out and entertained myself. Many times, I just went home to hang out with high school friends.
This year though, I decided I would have more in my life than studying and doing homework. I acknowledge that our parents want us to do well in school, but we can still make college worthwhile by having fun and going out. After all, we are still adolescents.
So, find a group of friends to hang out with each week or an activity to keep you busy. If you do, you'll find college a lot easier to appreciate. It will make things easier and ultimately make you happier.
Grades are important, but so is your well-being. During my first two years at Ball State I focused too much on academics and too little on my social life.
Today, I feel like I am more balanced. Not because I live off campus or that I am 21, but because I realized too much of something is bad for you.
I may have received excellent grades when I was sitting in my dorm room studying, but I wasn't living the entire college experience. I wrote for the Daily News and was part of Hall Council, but going out was nonexistent.
I am finally going out this year and am enjoying it tremendously. For the past few months I have looked forward to every Thursday night when I hang out with my friends. It's the one night a week I hardly do homework and instead enjoy the other part of college: meeting people and making new experiences.
However, I still remind myself that whatever I do, I do it in moderation because when done in excess the greatest pleasures cease to please.
And I want to enjoy my life.
Jason Marer is a junior social studies major and writes 'Think to Exist' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Jason at jsmarer@bsu.edu
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