Tag Archives: partying

The Main Reasons Why Alcohol & Drugs Will Affect Your Academic Performance… Badly

I drink too much. Last time I gave a urine sample, it had an olive in it.”

– Rodney Dangerfield, U.S. comedian

Ask your parents if they drank too much alcohol during their time at college, and their replies will vary somewhere between the complete, swear-on-the-Holy-Bible and God’s honest truth kind of answer, and the blatant, downright lie. Ask them if they did drugs, however, and, chances are, pretty much all those responses would probably get thrown out in a court of law, with the judge threatening contempt.

Hey, Mom, you ever get stoned? Were you a pothead in college, Dad?

Not the conversation to be had at the evening dinner table at the end of a long day, unless your Mom and Dad are going through a period of enlightened California-style parenting. For many parents of kids in college, it wasn’t that they drank or did drugs during their time. It’s more a case of they got through college in spite of them. Perhaps, just like what you’re doing.

I’ll be honest. College, when I was younger, was a blur. My memory of it now is just a retail collection of moments like old polaroids – putting them together in some semblance of order is the problem.

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Andy, I’m a mid-thirties digital marketing entrepreneur, running a successful agency, who, for over 9 years now, has lived a completely clean and sober life. No alcohol, no drugs, no nada. Just abstinence.

However, for the vast majority of my adolescent years, I was an alcoholic and a drug addict, saved only my own Mom and Dad finally threw me on the backseat of the family car, drove me to the next state over, and deposited what was left of their son, hopeless addict, physical and mental wreck, and an ex-con to boot, on the steps of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

Get busy living, Andy, and all that. So I did, and I gave rehab everything.

6 months later, I emerged, clean, sober, physically and mentally the fittest I’d ever been or felt, and now with a decent education. I had majored in addiction, and in rehab, I learned as much as I could about this chronic, sometimes fatal disease that nearly took my life – it’s amazing what you can do with a clear head.

If you want to know how drugs and alcohol will negatively affect your academic performance, read on. If you’re reading this, and thinking, “You know what, Andy? You seem like a nice guy, and I’m glad you turned your life around, and all that. To be honest, though, I don’t really care,” then what follows will make you care.

Let’s look at the 2 most popular substances used, and often abused, on any U.S. campus, and why they will affect your academic performance… badly:

  • Alcohol, and
  • Marijuana

The intoxication from both will continue to have a detrimental effect on a student’s cognitive function – primarily, attention, concentration, and memory – for around 48 hours afterward. In other words, get drunk on the Friday night, because you’ve got exams on Monday to study for, and the weekend is your only revision time left, and you’ve just shot your academic self in the foot.

Serious abuse of both can lead to the spiral of addiction, and I’m sure you don’t want to have that conversation with Mom and Dad…

Alcohol

Memory: As described above, heavy drinking will affect cognitive function long after you wake up with the obligatory hangover, and will probably mean you start the day with a positive blood alcohol level as well as your pounding head. This alcohol still present in your system directly affects your ability to process and store new information – to fully understand it, and then to successfully retain it in its entirety.

For the biology students out there, “intoxication is produced by a temporary impairment of brain receptors key in creating long-term memories in the hippocampus“, says Duke University’s Jeff Georgi, an Alcohol and Addictions Program coordinator at the school. “If you study for four hours…then go drinking, it affects this anchoring process.”

Sleep: Alcohol messes with your sleep too. Normal sleep cycle interference results in irritability, fatigue, and an increase in anxiety, all of which will directly affect a student’s learning ability for up to 48 hours.

Stress: As the old joke goes, alcohol is only a solution if you’re a chemist. In reality, alcohol doesn’t stop stress, or “academic success-anxiety,” just the symptoms of it – temporarily. By actually not self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, you are giving yourself a far better chance to naturally resolve what is causing the stress.

Marijuana

Memory, Concentration, & Attention: As described above, marijuana use (well, pretty much all drug use) will affect cognitive function long after you wake up, directly affecting your ability to simply pay attention and, indeed, concentrate in the classroom, and then being able to store that information in your memory.

Sleep: When used in the evening and at night time, marijuana is pretty much the same as alcohol when it comes to your sleep cycle, resulting in increases in irritability, fatigue, and anxiety, again, directly affecting learning ability. 

Motivation: Now, if you’re sat there reading this, and you’re a little surprised by the use of the word “motivation,” oh, please… Seriously, there is mounting evidence that marijuana use affects your motivation, likely due to a combination neuronal suppression (the hippocampus, again), the blocking of nutrients through cells, and fatigue following disturbed sleep.

Anxiety: Although not an academic reason, it’s worth mentioning that marijuana use increases heart rate, weakens the heart muscle, and increases blood pressure – all of which should concern someone already diagnosed with anxiety. However, as with self-medicating with alcohol, marijuana does nothing to resolve the issues creating your anxiety and stress.

No Lecture

There you have them – the main reasons why alcohol and drugs will affect your academic performance… badly. Forego the alcohol consumption (if you’re binge drinking, and college students have been known to do that on a regular basis, please cut it out of your life – it’s seriously dangerous), and forego getting stoned in the belief it will only do you good. You’ll feel better, and perform better academically without them.

Without these substances, you’ll feel so much better, you’ll be naturally happier, you’ll be more attentive, you’ll be able to concentrate fully, and you’ll enjoy a better memory. As a college student striving for academic success, it makes sense, doesn’t it?

How does alcohol or marijuana use affect your academic performance, or do you believe it doesn’t? Let us know by sharing a comment below.

The 5 Negative Consequences Of Partying Over Studying

I don’t get high, but sometimes I wish I did.

That way, when I messed up in life, I would have an excuse.

But, right now, there’s no rehab for stupidity.”

Chris Rock, U.S. comedian, and actor 

Right now, there really is no rehab for stupidity. There’s no place you can go to detox, away from other stupid people, under the correct professional guidance and supervision, to get yourself a little brighter, a little bit smarter, and then to re-enter the local community as a valid member of society, prepared to never return to your utterly nonsensical ways of the past – indeed, as someone now in possession of a few more sandwiches in the picnic basket.

Unless, of course, I’m subconsciously discussing college here… 

Take any typical college campus. Throw in a free(ish) weekend, and the majority of young people are going to be looking to enjoy themselves, have the proverbial good time. And why not? And so what if those Monday memories of it all are a little jaded, a little sketchy, filled in only by amigos who approach you with a look of fair disbelief on their face? There’s time enough in your life to be putting your shoulder to the wheel, making the mortgage payment this month, every month, and filling the tank every couple of days. If cars still have tanks then…

That was my attitude during my college days. Add the fact that I was well down the road of chronic addiction (liquor and meth, to be precise), and a free weekend was a done deal. Winner, winner, blackout dinner. Tell me about it on Monday. Or Tuesday… Or never. Just avoid me in the corridor.

Nowadays, I’m a little more focused, to say the least. Nearly ten years ago, and thanks to my parents, I found myself in one of the other kinds of rehabs – the ones where they detox you and then make you well from the years of substance abuse that you subjected yourself to. And, with good luck and a following wind, I’ve been clean and sober ever since. And sobriety feels good.

Real drug and alcohol rehab, for me anyway, was a far better source of meaningful education than college ever was. But, I guess, it comes down to what you’re studying. I, as it turned out, was majoring in a chronic disease that came close to killing me. Now if that doesn’t get you to sit up and pay attention in class, I don’t know what will.

I’d like to share some of my class notes with you here. Especially aimed at those students who are tempted by a weekend of drunken and drug-induced debauchery as opposed to settling down with a nice History essay or five. Here are your 5 negative consequences of partying over studying:

Alcohol Overload

It’s unpleasantly like being drunk.” 

“What’s so unpleasant about being drunk?” 

“You ask a glass of water.”

Douglas Adams, British author, and playwright

Drinking alcohol at college parties is as endemic as textbooks. It’s there, and how you deal rationally with it is an important aspect of your college life. Fail to do so, and rationality will go out of the window as your reliance upon it increases. Take it from one who’d chug a shot before the first class of the day. Alcohol’s effect on any student will take various forms – here’s a few to get you thinking:

  • Liver Disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Cancer
  • Ulcers & Gastrointestinal Problems
  • Immune System Dysfunction
  • Brain Damage
  • Malnourishment & Vitamin Deficiencies
  • Osteoporosis
  • Heart Disease
  • Accidents & Injuries

Being young doesn’t make you exempt. Many of the fellow addicts I shared rehab with were experiencing a number of these, and some were irreversible. Irreversible.

Sleep Deprivation

One of the main consequences of partying like you’re Prince (am I showing my age here?) and it’s 1999 is this – sleep deprivation. Not enough of it, poor quality sleep, or not even being able to get there in the first place. And this can be whether your party fun was chemically-induced or not. So, say goodbye to past levels of concentration when the lesson bell rings. And everybody knows that Monday morning feeling of wishing for a brand new weekend to suddenly begin again.  

Sliding Grades

“Striking a balance” is pretty good advice for anyone when it comes to getting through life. Yes, there is doing what needs to be done, and, yes, there is doing what doesn’t need to be done, but you want to anyway. Get the balance right, and they won’t be able to wipe that smug smile off your face. Get it wrong at college, and your teachers and professors will know before you do – your grades will snitch, and will tell on you. Guaranteed.

Remember, it’s never too late to recover your academic performance, and get back on track. Or is it? I’m an example of principal-stamped proof of the latter. I actually remember one tutor telling me that I needed more than a miracle to pass the semester, and considering I had failed every Monday morning to rise from the dead as Jesus had done, that was probably a little too far-fetched for me. That was my “Satirical Humor” class.

Ever-Changing Moods

Partying should make you happy. Usually, it does. However, the after-effects of any binge, drugs or alcohol or both, is going to hit you emotionally. You are in no way going to be your usual motivated, leveled, industrious self if you have become a permanent fixture of the house party circuit. Two biggies to watch out for here: anxiety and depression. If either of these sound alarm bells with you, it really is time for a time-out.

Conflicts Where There Should Be None

When you become out of control on a reasonably regular basis (and take it from me, control wasn’t one of my things), conflicts will invariably arise, some of which you will have no idea about until the other side decides to vent at you. And, in my experience, vent they will. Too much partying will always try and knock down the walls of personal relationships – romantic, friends, and acquaintances. You have been warned.

What Happens Next

Well, that’s up to you. Tone it down, hit the books a little more, strike that balance, and all will be good. Carry on like you’ve got one month to live, and, like me, maybe you’ll be told that for real one day. Yes, it’s college, yes, it’s your life, yes, you’re younger than I’ll ever be, but, unless you make changes if you are bearing witness to the consequences described above, then maybe you’ll wake up one morning, back of a dumpster, no money, no home, no nada, just an angry thirst. Yes, many a time, in case you’re wondering.

Have you been out too much lately, living it up when you should be handing it in? Please let us know by sharing a comment below. The last thing – take it easy. Because life gets no easier.

Don’t Drink and Drive: Understanding the Consequences of an Underage DUI

The Consequences of an Underage DUI can be more severe that you' ever imagine

After the torturous two-hour long exams and endless lectures, a late-night party with friends awaits you. However, even though you’re ready to have a great time laughing and drinking, make sure to prioritize your safety and the well-being of others around you well-after the fun has been had. Don’t let a couple of beers or shots prevent you from going home. More than 29% of the US population has died from DUI car accidents, and you and your friends deserve better than to become another statistic.

Did you also know an underage DUI is one of the worst traffic violations to receive? Take care to remember these consequences so that you fully understand the impact of an underage DUI.

  1. The first-time offense will not be lenient towards you

It’s common to have one speeding ticket or a minor traffic violation, but a DUI on your record will illustrate bad and questionable morale to a police officer who pulls you over, or a judge sentencing your punishment in court. Your drivers license can be suspended for however long the court sees fit. Additionally, you will have to pay large fines, participate in mandatory community service, attend DUI education school, and typically serve jail time for a few days.

  1. If you are convicted of additional offenses prior to a current DUI, expect harsher consequences than the first

Expect longer jail time and higher fees. Priorly convicted individuals can spend up to 10 years in jail for a DUI alone. Furthermore, you will be required to install an interlock ignition device in your vehicle. It functions as a breathalyzer to measure your BAC but will ask for a breath sample at random times during your driving. It will not stop your vehicle from operating necessarily, but it will immediately send information to your probation officer if you have violated the law by driving intoxicated in any way.

  1. If you hurt anyone – including yourself – you will have to live with the aftermath the rest of your life

You are not the only person that can suffer the consequence of a DUI. Sometimes, others – such as your passenger or people in cars on the road next to you – may get caught up in your irresponsible driving. This results in serious injury – or even death – to all parties involved. The possible weight on your conscience should be enough to prevent you from ever driving under the influence in the first place.

The next time you plan on partying and drinking on the same night, make a plan of action that uses alternative measures in getting you and friends home safely to prevent any risk of harm. The reason that DUI laws for underage individuals are so strict is that the law wants to enforce safety for the community and its citizens above all else. Not to say that you can never party or have fun again – it ’s taking the lesson of DUI’s very seriously and always to choose to drive sober. You can have all the fun in the world and still get home safely so you can have an even better time tomorrow night.

What Your Dream Student Party Needs

University is about finding out what sort of person you are, learning more about the subject that is your passion, and making plans for how you want to live the rest of your life. Of course, it’s also about having lots and lots of parties. The trouble is that the parties you have at university often end up being pale shadows of the parties in your imagination. You may plan the sort of neighborhood destroying catastroparties you saw in campus comedies growing up, but all too often you end up in a small house just off campus drinking cheap lager out of a bath full of ice cubes.

But what if money was no object? What if the only limit to how awesome your party could be was your imagination? What then?

mudwrestling at a party

Throwing a television into a pool

I’ll be honest with you. There will come a time in your life when throwing a television into a swimming pool seems stupid. One day you will see it as a terrible waste that ruins a perfectly good TV and a perfectly good swimming pool, aside from the (enormous) health and safety issues it brings up. But that day is not today. Today is the day that you know that ruining a perfectly good TV and swimming pool aren’t unfortunate byproducts, but the entire point of throwing a TV into a swimming pool. Future you may not understand, but they don’t have to.

Singing waiters

There are many ways in which real life does not live up to the world of movies, and student parties are just one of them. In reality, violence is horrifying and scary rather than ultra cool. In reality if two people of opposite sexes meet and immediately don’t get on, the odds are they will learn to sincerely hate each other rather than falling hopelessly in love. But worst of all, nobody ever spontaneously bursts into a fully choreographed song and dance number, even during times of high emotion or great parties.

Fortunately, science has now found an answer to this final tragedy with the help of singing waiters. You can hire Singing Waiters and have them simply walk around your party, serving drinks like regular waiters, and then on cue, WHAM! There’ll be jazz hands everywhere.

Mud Wrestling

As with throwing a TV into a swimming pool, mud wrestling is an activity that may not make sense at a distance. Okay, so it’s supposed to be sexy, you get that, but nobody actually looks any good covered in mud, so what’s the point? The point is that you’re really over thinking it. Just print invitations that say “This party includes mud wrestling” and let destiny do the rest.

Have any other crazy ideas for a student party? share them below!

 

The Best Time Of Your Life: Top 10 Colleges With the Happiest Students

Of all the colleges with the happiest students in America, Clemson ranks in our top 10...!

Of all the colleges with the happiest students in America, Clemson ranks in our top 10…!

While the point of college to learn about a selected field in deep detail and graduate with a degree that stands as your proof of competency in it, if you spend your whole time there bored out of your gourd, what’s the point?

Happiness needs to be factored into the equation as well, and to aid you in factoring that aspect into your decision-making equation, we have put together a list of ten colleges that stands heads and shoulders above the rest in this important category. Let’s review each of them, starting with…

1) Texas A & M University

If college athletics is important to you and you are looking for a university in the Lone Star State, you’re in luck, as Texas A&M is a big sports school, with its students whipped into a mad football frenzy every home game weekend. Those looking for a plethora of living options will be pleased that there are many apartment choices near the university, and those looking to celebrate Spring Break in style won’t have to budge an inch, as South Padre Island is practically in A&M’s backyard!

2) Vanderbilt University

Want your degree to actually mean something? Vanderbilt has some of the highest quality professors around, meaning that you’ll actually have the knowledge to back up the letters by your name after college. On the social side of things, there are tons of restaurants to choose from, which is quite fortunate, because you’ll be frequenting them after the countless parties you’ll be attending, as the party scene here is outrageously huge.

3) Virginia Tech

Despite the horrible tragedy several years back, Virginia Tech is a safe place that boasts one of the most down to earth student bodies in the nation. Those that are looking to ride a team all the way through to college bowl season will be in luck here, as football is a way of life for many students, faculty and alumni at VT.

4) Claremont McKenna College

Taking in the stunningly beautiful campus at Claremount McKenna College will be the first of many positive experiences you’ll have at this school, as the well-entrenched party culture will be the scene of made friendships forged over beers and shared interests. Those who claim Judaism as their religion will love the fact that there is a strong Jewish presence on campus, and those that live, eat and breathe academics will love the fact that their professors clearly know the subjects that they specialize in.

5) Stanford University

Despite being a school of Ivy League caliber, Stanford continually surprises newcomers with the friendliness of its faculty and student body. An open environment ensures that people of all creeds, races, orientations, etc are made to feel welcome and accepted, and the campuses’ Californian location grants it photogenic looks that will the background of every experience you have over the next four years.

6) Clemson University

Well known for its great social scene and incredibly friendly people, socially extroverted types will thrive at Clemson. Those that consider themselves outdoors will love the fact that the natural splendor of South Carolina will be at their finger tips, as the Appalachian Mountains are 45 minutes away, and the sandy beaches of the Atlantic are a mere 4-5 hours from campus.

7) University of Wisconsin

Those that yearn to get involved on campus will find plenty of opportunities to get involved socially at the University of Wisconsin, and for those that would rather paint their face and cheer on their school’s team until they lose their voice, being involved in D1 athletics creates a lot of spirit on campus. What if you’re introverted though? A variety of dorms enables people of all types to find a living arrangement that suits them best, eliminating friction being portions of the population that are less compatible with each other.

8) Florida State University

In the relative warmth of the Northern Florida autumn, football season is a blast from start to finish, as enthusiastic students crowd the stands to cheer on the Seminoles to victory. A vibrant Greek life only serves to fuel that fervor on game days, as well as the party scene on weekends. Those that were hoping to actually get some learning done in all this aren’t left out in the cold though, as the professors here are reported as being very competent and knowledgeable in their area of expertise.

9) Tulane University

First point in Tulane’s favor: it’s in freakin’ New Orleans, so when the books shut on Friday afternoon, the nightlife that ensues will make you the envy of your old high school friends. Those looking to meet people different from themselves will love the fact that Tulane attracts a diverse student body from across the country and around the world, all seeking the Nawlins lifestyle.

10) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jocks and partiers rejoice: the parties and social events that revolve around sports never seem to stop here, so enjoy the four years you spend here if you go, as they will invariably be the best ones of your life. Despite its location in the midst of the Deep South, UNC at Chapel Hill is actually one of the most open-minded and accepting places in the country, standing in stark contrast to the uber conservative countryside that lies outside this bubble of liberalism.