College VS Straight Edge

i lived in california and i am a freshman at a college in nj.
my whole high school years were spent with all my srtaight edge brother and friends (all boys).
I got to college and knew NO ONE! i thought that joining a sorority would help, my sister did it and now she has friends... well sisters, that she will have for life. So I joined a soroity and Ive started to see how frustrating it can be, not just to be in college full of "experimenting" young adults, but to watch other sorority girls get wasted and embarass themselves as well can be hard, thankfully my sisters see and respect me for my choices and some even stay sober and dance with me to keep me company.

its still hard, youre right, edge and college dont mix, but i hope there can be a happy medium.

It is so odd that I had stumbled across this article today. I'm a freshman in college in Manhattan, and I had a little issue with my 5 roommates just a few days ago about this topic.

So I have one roommate that said she didn't drink, but she wasn't edge or anything. She had been drunk before, became violently ill and didn't like it, so she didn't drink. She was somewhat of my sidekick on the very rare occasions that we went out with the others. They drank, we stood around. Everyone else in my suite drinks, and that's fine with me. As long as they don't pressure me or insult my beliefs, I have no problem, but for this one time, it was not the case.

I'm usually the neutral one in my suite. I'm just the goofy little one that everyone gets along with. I avoid conflict at all costs and get extremely anxious when there is conflict. But the other night my one edge friend that I have in college, who is also a vegan like me, and I went out to eat at a vegan restaurant, and I already knew that one of my roommates was going to this bar that is pretty well known in my school for serving underage. But for some reason, when I was out she had convinced the others to join her. I came back into my room at about midnight, and no one was there, so I just went to bed. I wake up at 6 AM to the clunking of the girls out in the common area. They are all completely wasted.

When I actually wake up the next day, about 11, I walk into the common area/kitchen and the ENTIRE PLACE IS DESTROYED. Ripped up streamers all over the place, food everywhere, wrappers, makeup caked onto the sink, hair products all over, it was a disaster. I was so upset because I am a neat freak, and all of them were too hung over to do anything so I was stuck cleaning up the entire mess to save myself from insanity.

I found out that the one girl that doesn't drink got completely wasted and even hooked up with two people, which was extremely unlike her. I was very disappointed. No one thanked me or even said anything to me about cleaning up the mess that they had made. In fact, they actually did the opposite. They accused me of having an attitude cause they thought I was mad because they went out drinking. Well, actually I was mad that I was basically their mother for the night/day. And because I had this attitude, my instigating roommate decided to bicker with me about veganism, acting like she knew more about it than me. I have been a vegan for almost 4 years, so why would she know more than me? And because she felt she needed back-up, she texted my one roommate that didn't used to drink and told her that 'meat was evil, don't eat it or you'll die,' which is NOT what I said at all to her. But my roommate wrote back and said "hahaha, tell lindsay I'm out killing a cow now!" Was this necessary?

Needless to say, I feel even more outcasted than I did before. I don't expect to find a lot of people in college with the same beliefs I have. I'm accepting of others, but I don't like it when they insult the way I am, because I most definitely don't do it to theirs. I may not necessarily agree with it, but I wouldn't put it down. I'm used to being outcasted in a way, because not a lot of people in my high school didn't drink or were vegan, so it's completely fine. I just wish people had more respect for others' beliefs and didn't try to push theirs on others. Live and let live!

It's always encouraging to hear about other edge kids sticking to their guns even in college. I can't tell you how many I know have lost their edge just to fit in in this type of environment. Stay strong.

go to edge shows in your college area.
you'll find them
: )

I have no problem with this at all.

My gut is filled with QDoba as well. Represent.

i have huge admiration for anyone who is straight edge, i myslef am not, thats just my choice, i quit drinking about 6 years ago for personal reasons but started again, but my boyfriend is straight edge and some of my best mates and i think its good to see people who stand for their beliefs

I just moved to Waco, Texas in August to attend school at Baylor University, the world's largest Baptist school. Moved from Las Vegas, Nevada. Most edge kids around here (LV) are douchebags with their heads up their asses. I generally avoid groups of any kind because they tend to be trouble, hence why I tend to not use the edge label on myself, and instead state that I adhere to edge values. You'd think these kids at Baylor would have some sense but apparently having a loving relationship with Jesus makes absolutely no difference. Living in a shithole doesn't help either though. Most of the friends I have made drink and/or use some sort of drug or smoke hookah/cigs. A few like to get plastered, others just for the buzz. Luckily, I have a roommate who rarely drinks and only does so in her sister's apartment, and will never get drunk. Doesn't do any drugs, never has. She rules pretty hard, haha. As far as those friends (and people) who do drink/smoke/do things, I think it's their business and I will never impose my beliefs and ideals upon them. If someone asks why I am not participating in drinking/smoking, I will gladly explain what's up. I always offer to be the designated driver because my friends deserve nothing less. I owe it to them. I choose these people as friends for not only their fun factor, but their character and mental clarity as well, thus the drinking and such becomes a minute, if non-existent factor in how i judge them so to speak. It sounds weird saying that I seek mental clarity, yet befriend people who get plastered. How this makes sense in my life is that the friends I have that enjoy getting plastered, do so such that they plan ahead, so that they don't end up behind the wheel or something else. They make sure that someone, such as myself, will be there just in case. I don't mind sitting at a party waiting for everyone to nearly pass out, and then drive them all home, whether they're a friend or not. I live my life with a self first philosophy. Others come next. Thus how I respond to the drinkers and such as far as pretty much baby-sitting them seems contradictory. I once drank heavily and did some illicit drugs for a good period of time. Ended up running away and getting in trouble with the law. Became straight edge almost four years ago. I want the people in my life to avoid going down that path, or any path like it, and if I can be the inspiration that prevents them from doing so, or that saving grace on a really stupid night or something, then I have achieved some purpose.
In a way I feel like I not only adhere to edge values for myself, but for the benefit of others as well. It's not me being taken advantage of, seeking thanks and whatnot, or considering "karma" (don't believe in that shit). i just believe in compassion and keeping an eye out for the well-being of others in a non-invasive manner.

So point really being (sorry I babble, and it's 330 am), being edge and living the "college life" isn't all that difficult if your priorities in life are straight.

I've met three edge dudes in Waco that are pretty damn awesome, although It'd be nice to have a girl friend to relate to on the levels of edgeness and good music that isn't chingy or lil' wayne, but that's where an open mind steps in.

Self first (in a non-selfish manner, ask if you want me to explain, haha), and seek out people who are concerned with WHO they are, rather than WHAT they are. If you do just that, there is no battle of College v. Straight Edge. Straight edge is simply a lifestyle choice you abide by in order to better your self. (Note I said your self, not yourself, two different concepts). I see things a bit differently than most, given that I am so concerned with the concept of "self", but I think it's an important thing to be concerned about. It's all about being compassionate, open-minded, and having your priorities straight. Strive to become a self-actualizing being and just have a little bit of confidence and strength. It is then that being edge/adhering to edge beliefs is no longer really a battle of you versus the world.

P.S. Those who truly stand up for their beliefs are a bona fide rarity, nonetheless those who adhere to straight edge beliefs in a world (specifically that of college, where drinking and such are almost expected) with such fucked up priorities and so consumed by pretentious bullshit. So kudos to all of you kids for upholding such awesome values, to me, doing so and putting your heart into it and behind it is truly commendable and honorable.

I hope I got to some point, sorry if I didn't, haha.

Ugh, I cannot tell you how well I relate.
I'm a frosh in college right now and nearly everyone drinks. The friends that I have found that don't drink simply aren't doing it for the legal repercussions but have big plans for their 21st birthdays. I most certainly do not look down on them, I just know that once they can drink, they probably will - and that it will some how affect our relationship. I guess I can take a little bit of comfort knowing I'll always be there to be their DD though...right?
If anyone needs a little encouragement with the sticking to the SxE lifestyle while in college, drop me a line. I'd love some correspondence. Right now I'm the only person that I know of that's SxE

i am also edge in my first year of college. unfortunately, i go to UC Santa Barbara, one of the most notorious party schools. it was not my first choice obviously, but it was the best school that accepted me.

when i read your article, i totally related to playing the "find another edger" game. fortunately, i have found one other girl who is edge and we sometimes chill.

thanks for writing this piece! it's really inspiring for young college students like myself

I'm sorry to hear that so many of you have had such bad experiences with drinking and college. I go to a small school, but since there's not much to do most people drink. However, very rarely have I met someone who's criticized me for not drinking. I will admit it does get a little awkward sometimes, especially now that I live in a house of girls that get obnoxiously drunk every weekend (bad singalongs included), but for the most part I've had a pretty positive reaction. My suggestion to everyone is to go out and join some campus group that suits your interest (me, I'm involved in College Dems, criminology society, dance, and rugby, plus other stuff). Yeah, you're probably not going to find people that don't drink, but you will find people with another common interest. With any luck, you'll have a new group of friends that will like you, even if you don't drink. And for reference, I'm a senior, so I like to think I speak from a good base of experience

Wow, this is really inspiring. Especially since I will be attending college in less than a year. I am so scared that I will find individuals that I won't be able to relate to, but this is pretty relaxing.

This was nice, to see a struggle against the odds without compromising your principles.
I went to college in the UK for 3 years and was alcohol and drug free, and also vegan, and it was indeed like the rest of the world was against that lifestyle. Going against the flow can be hard, though you don't necessarily have to make friends who are edge, just find people who are open minded and accepting of the fact that you are and their association won't drag you down as long as you don't hang out with them when they're drunk or stoned etc. I found the problem was after college when everyone goes out to party is when you have to say 'no', but when you realise you're not missing out on anything but suffering the consequences it's not as hard. It's when you think there's something fun about intoxication that the temptation comes to join the rest of the world.
20 years later I find the same situation at the workplace, and having to avoid pubs and most restaurants can make you seem anti-social, but often people respect your lifestyle choices and you don't have to hide them. The main problem is we need friends so if we cut off from people we need to replace them with like minded associations, and if we can reach out and make friends with non-edge people then it often makes them think about their actions and in this way the movement grows and the world slowly changes...
Peace – Vijaya ;0)

I can completely relate to this article. I'm straight edge, and in college (my second year) and a lot of my friends drink and party and stuff. I've never been into that kind of stuff. And I always tell them, "Look, I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but don't try to involve me in that stuff." I turn 21 this October, and I have no intention of going out and getting completely and totally drunk, or going out to a club and drinking or anything like that. And all of my friends look at me like I'm insane that I'm not going to go out drinking on my birthday. I mean, I might have a glass of champaigne (sp?) with my dinner on my 21st birthday, but that's it. Also, most of my friends smoke hookah, and I don't smoke because I'm just not interested. I believe you can have fun without drugs, alcohol, or sex. Besides, books are my anti-drug.
And, I'm proud of being straight edge.

No matter what school you go to there will be people who drink. I decided many years ago that I would not drink, do drugs, ect. It was mainly due to my frowning upon others due to stories I had heard but since then has changed due to the things I hope to accomplish in my life and my overall priorities. I started college this year at a small yet renowned technical institute. I got place on a floor where almost everyone decided to join the same frat. Of course the first couple days I thought about joining, but the work I had to do for school was going to take too much time for me to attempt to put in the full effort to pledge. Of course the notorious drinking and parties also scared me off. That being said, my roommates are both out of the room basically all weekend and it does get boring and lonely since Im really not a social butterfly, however, my schoolwork has been outstanding. In high school I underachieved due to me spending too much time working and having good times with friends. Now comes the advice. Remember why you are going to school in the first place. If you cant make many friends and spend a lot of time not doing much, put as much time and effort as you can into school work. Once that is done then look into groups and clubs. Im not saying dont go out and have fun like others have suggested, its just that oftentimes people make more of this issue than they should, make a few close friends, and aside from that try to plow through school as quickly and successfully as possible. Some consider it the best times of your life and for some it might be, but for others, such as myself, it seems like the 10% of the immature party-happy kids from high school who managed to get into college seem to make up almost 50% (or more) of the college population. Also parents reading this, I would probably not be this way unless my parents decided to be some strict with me through high school about parties and drinking. Dont let it slide. Not once. College is a whole new game, where the kids who never got away with it often times get kicked out because of it. So how would a kid who does it every weekend already end up? Sorry if I came off as cold or pessimistic, its just that today, with the cost of school, it seems like some kids need to just grow up and forget about trying to fit in, do the work and move on to bigger and better things.

This is so encouraging to hear other people who share my beliefs. Basically i am the only one i know who doesn't drink. I am a senior in high school, getting ready for college, and I can't help but worry about how i am going to handle the party situation next year. I worry that I'm going to get tired of feeling left out and upset with my friends that I will just join in.
I wish that i could just be like most of the kids my age and think drinking and drugs are cool and not get upset when my friends do it, but I'm not. Every one of my friends has told me at one time or another that they really admire my ability to stay true to my beliefs and have decided to be straightedge too. And I get really excited and truly believe what they say. But they always end up going back to their old ways a couple of days later, behind my back, and then make fun of me for not drinking. This exact situation has seriously happened like 10 times. I'm so sick of it, and i just really hope that i have the strength to stay true to my values through college.

This is exactly why we started Hammered. Check out what we're doing at Hammered.org. At Hammered.org, students can post and find fun alternatives to the typical college party scene. And, you can even start a Hammered chapter on your campus to organize regular alternatives.

I founded Hammered while a student in college and it provided an unbelievable outlet for me since I didn't drink. I hope it can be the same for many of you who posted here.

Sign up at Hammered.org and let me know what you think.

Hi!

I have really enjoyed reading all of your blog posts. I am a senior at Tufts University and am writing my senior thesis on the straight edge movement. If any of you are interested in talking to me about your experience being straight edge, I would love the chance to talk to you! You can contact me at \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thanks!

Alyssa

You are a better person than I am in so many different ways, I'm sorry.. For everything.

I've had a strained relationship with drugs and alcohol all my life. In high school I didnt drink because I was underage and just didnt want it to interfere with my priorities. In addition, I was straight-edge because it just seemed like a good choice for me- as I'm crazy enough without drugs. But I would be lying if I didnt have anything to do with the fact that my best friend was edge too. Eventually one day I decided to break edge because I wanted to know exactly what I was up against since I was reading Nietzche and decided to undertake a "Reevaluation of my values". Well, I decided that it was ok to not be edge anymore since I liked what I felt. But as the years have gone by- even in high school- it was really frightening to see how friends I know seemed to lose control. And had given in myself for a brief period to this blond debauchery- perhaps to a lesser extent, but still beyond my superego's comfort level. Hanging wasnt fun anymore- and was expensive. Friends would go to bars and blow maybe $30.00 on alcohol and then go back to someone's house to sit around and get stoned. But there was never a sense of deep conversing or creativity. Anyways, I am now a senior in college and decided that I can't live like that anymore. The need to be in control of my own body and mind is of most importance. So if I decide to have a drink or smoke, its because I want it and not just because its the thing to do. There are many nights when I am that awkward sober person at a party. Maybe it depends on your attitude, but I've never been too awkward about it. You just have to embrace it, if you're at a party have a good time- be there cause you want to, not just cause its something to do. There will always be someone there who appreciates a good, clear minded individual to talk to- or a drunk person makin a fool out of themselves. And its important that you have control over your identity- reevaluate your values from time to time.

It is often very hard to be freshman. I have watched many films about american college http://rapid4me.com/?q=college . Sometimes it's not easy.

try going to college in england. these kids never even thought it was possible to go out sober. so here i am, proving them wrong every step of the way. straight edge and proud of it.

Actually, not only college will happened in my high school if you don't drink people will think you are a freak or they will respect you but not really chill with you. One of the girl in my class bash me of being straight edge when she stares at my laptop and sees me going to some straight edge website she will be like "Straight edge...you are not straight edge, stop lying" (she pick on my old life time history to bash on me) or when I wear my "Hugs not Drugs" t-shirt she will be like "Not cool man, should be "Drugs not Hugs"".

I got the sudden urge to look up if drinking was worth it for college students or not this early morning after checking out some girl's photos on Facebook. I had no idea she was the type to drink/smoke, but I guess I was DEAD wrong. It just really saddens me that I discover this about people who I have likely known since grade school and it's just COMPLETELY dishonorable to the self to ingest such toxic things. My mom, a spiritualist, always says that drinking weakens the mind and allows for negative spirits to come in and "fuck you up"; I don't know if I believe that in that manner, but man, the whole "fucked up" part is definitely true. When I was at college this past semester, nearly EVERYONE drank, and the people I met who didn't I considered true friends because they did not join the mass and do what everyone else was doing. One of my close friends whose father is an alcoholic rambled to me nearly the whole year about how much she hated drinking and would NEVER try it. Her roommate, a sweet (but likely deceptive) character begged her to get drunk just once since it was the close of her freshman year. Low and behold, she barfed her brains out several hours later, and was totally not herself when I talked to her about how shocked I was that she did that. I know I shouldn't be so anal about what other people do, but it hurts my image of people like that who abolish their own values to please other people. I am very glad I found this blog about straight edge though. I have to say, I always thought I would be a more casual/classy drinker in my later years, but as I was walking through the kitchen I decided to smell my parent's mojito mix, and it smelled like nail polish. Who in their right mind would drink something like that? I don't get how people and their silly little clouded visions of what "entertainment" is actually think that losing control of yourself is a good time. What about bungee jumping, or baking cookies, or going to the park? Oh, I'm sorry, that's not as thrilling! There's so much other stuff one could be doing than literally wasting their insides with trash drinks. I feel alone sometimes when I think about this, but I am truly grateful to have found this, and you guys have given me strength to continue to follow my dreams and beliefs. Because, truly, that's all everyone wants. It's just that some of us lose focus on what we truly want, and accidentally focus on what we think people want of us. ~Sigh~

I too worked at DQ for a while and I too am a straight edger in my third year of college in Nac-a-no-where, Texas. I have no friends there that are straight edge, but I have a lot that don't drink or party. Most of my friends are guys and somehow I got lucky enough that I didn't have a roommate. I just recently met a guy that lives in a town near the school I go to that is SXE. It's pretty awesome. I'm glad you wrote this bulletin. I can relate to so much of it. Especially my Freshman year. I also figured out that if I do have friends that drink, being straight edge I can always be their designated driver and get them home safely. I don't mind because I would rather pick them up at 3 o'clock in the morning rather than get a call that they were in an accident for drinking and driving. I'm the only SXE person at my college. It's not so bad though. A lot of people ask me what it is because of my tattoo and it makes my day to be able inform them of my sober lifestyle. Just living it up on the edge, dude.

Somebody once said to me that in order to truly find your edge, or to prove that you're dedicated to straight edge, you have to have an experience when it's just you, by yourself, the only straight edge person in your life. I think there is some truth to that. I really admire anyone hwo can stand up to the whole world and still maintain who they truly are.

I'm not in college yet--I'm going to be a senior in high school next year, but I can relate to this so much.
I go to a really small school, and I've always had the same general group of friends. For a while we were inseparable, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But, I've also always had the same general set of beliefs, too... which extremely differs from that of my friends. I've always embraced the fact that I can have fun without substances, that I have self respect, and that I would never give myself up or change for anyone but myself. They used to be the same way as me, and as some of my friends gradually dropped into a different lifestyle, a few stuck by my side, recognizing the sadness in what some of my friends were doing to themselves. It has all changed now.
I still hang out with all of them often, but it's not the same anymore. I drive to parties with creepy college guys and have to look after my friends. I drive them home late at night and make sure they don't get sick, or get taken advantage of. I chill with them at the hookah bar, and sit around while they smoke weed. I still love them--we have the exact same sense of humor, and we've been through everything together. But honestly, I don't really have much in common with them anymore.
They used to talk about how sad it was that some people they knew relied on weed and alcohol to make them happy--now they are exactly the same way. For them, sober=unhappy. They all respect me, but they certainly don't understand me anymore. All they really seem to value is getting fucked up, and searching for guys to make them feel like they're loved. All I really value is music, playing music, finding new music, supporting bands I love, seeing the world through sober eyes, my own self-control, and my own self-love. I try not to look down on how they choose to live, and I don't, really. But sometimes it is hard when they make themselves look so dumb.
Sometimes I hate the fact that I'm not like everyone else I know, but then again, I wouldn't have it any other way (obviously). I just hope after I graduate, I can get the hell out of this small, drama-ridden town and find possibly anyone that I can relate to. At least on this website I can.

I have never had issues in school, having always done great. Unfortunately, when it came to the kids in my graduating class, there was only one other striaght edge kid, so I have gotten use to being the odd one out in a way. I am getting ready to head over to college in a few days. So far, I don't know anyone else who is straight edge where I am heading. It is comforting to know though that there is a chance that I will find someone else and that other people have had the same experiences.

Glad to see everyone is staying positive!

I am a freshman at San Diego State University, one of the top party schools in the country. Ofcourse i knew its reputation, but i loved the campus and it was the best school i got in to. I figured that i would be able to find at lease one other straight edge person out of 30,000 people that i could hang out with, and i'm sure there are people out there. I however haven't succeded yet.. we've been in school for a month and i only really have two actual friends, they're not edge but they're good people and i trust them and enjoy their company, and the peer pressure has never been an issue for me, but the me against the world feeling is starting to get to me. I felt the same way back home when people drank in high school, but my best friend was straight edge too and i always had my family to lean on. It's so different here, my suite mates never invite me to do anything with them because i've become "uncool" and this lonliness is eating away at me. I know who I am and I'm proud to be edge and get good grades and not poison myself and look like a fool because of alcohol, i just feel like that shouldn't make people not want to be my friend, or atleast get to know me for who i am and give me a chance. I was googling tonight for a board like this because the only the only two friends i've made went home for the weekend and i've been alone in my room all Friday night, this blog cheered me up though, it feels really good to know that i'm not alone.

Tonight I went to a frat party . rush is over but someone is always trying to recruit. I'm sad to say that I'm not straight edge but feel myself getting closer to it every second. My home town has a well known college in it that draws people from all over. Being a high school senior favorite, I still feel the need to get out and meet new people. So as I've started college, I decided I would go to one frat party just to see how it was. One of my buddies who graduated the year before me is in a frat and invited me to one of their big friendly parties tonight. After work I changed clothes and headed down to the frat house and was politely greeted by guys and girls but, i kept noticing one thing: everyone was either pulling up with beer or walking around with beer. Now this doesn't really bother me much because I seen it all the time in high school. I played some volleyball and talked to some people then went inside. Once inside my weakness got the best of me and I had a beer. Not the first time I've ever drank but perhaps the last. I went back outside and had a couple of smokes while talking to my buddy about joining the frat. Then some people started leaving to go to an intermural game. Like I said drinking doesn't bother me, but it frustrates me to see drunk teens get in a car with a twelve pack in their hand and drive off. I feel this is highly irresponsible. After I left, I texted one of my buddies and asked him what he thought about frats. He said they were very expensive and that he knew my mom and dad didn't agree to things such as that. When I got home I got on my laptop and searched for "keeping your priorities straight in college" and stumbled upon this page. After reading the writers message and a few other's comments, I start thinking back to when I was little and what my parents taught me about drinking, watching my older sister go to college and go wild, watching my friends waste their lives in high school and pay the price for it, my social drinking, one of my long time friends die two weeks ago while drunk, and my morals and relationship with the Man upstairs. Some things never change. That little voice inside you will never change if you listen to it. I knew several people at that party tonight and they apparently haven't been listening to their own little voice. Society's problem is that they don't listen to that little voice. To think that we can't change society is naive. Believe it or not, there was a time when people in "society" didn't act like this. If we all took our little voice and made it a big voice, slowly we can change things. Thats why tonight as I sit here and type all this out, I've decided to first change myself and second team up with God to reach out and find confused college students and youths and tell them the whole story about the majority. Most people don't believe in the dumb things they are doing and I know that if I want to change then there are others out there who must feel the same way. I'm proud for all you who wrote in and said hey, not all young adults are like this and that you think they should reconsider.
"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me" Philippians 4:13
"It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20
Like Phillips said, hold on for just one more day.

I kinda know what your going through. But it is not as severe. Every time i come out of the building from one of my classes someone is smoking but that isn't the worst. A lot of other people i can't have a conversation with without the topic of going to club coming up or drinking or doing drugs. But stay strong. That's what i'm doing when people talk about that shit i don't say a word about it or about my beliefs unless they ask me.

That is pretty much my story- except I keep avoiding the parties. I don't want to see the people I care about when they're wasted. I have been at college for 4 quarters and have yet to find someone who doesn't drink/smoke/sleep around. I honestly cannot say that I know someone who doesn't do any of the above and it makes me sad. I am alone, but I am sober, and I am healthy. That's what counts.

I just moved to Boston, MA for grad school. I think I am the only person in a department of nearly 100 graduate students who does not drink. I have been hanging out with the other first years, and I like them, but I really wish I had the support I did back home. It's hard being around people who don't completely 'get' you.

I wasn't able to make it to any shows this semester; somehow they all were the night before an exam. But I hope to start going to shows soon and meeting some people.

Im not a drinker or a party person, and I have to admit it has been pretty tough. I am a freshman at George Mason and Its been really hard to find other people like me. Even My roommate and everybody in the quad next door got kicked out of housing for alcohol and drugs its been tough. Thank the lord that my best friend from high school/neighbor is like me and that we met another straight edge guy at orientation. The thing is most of the time its just us 3 hanging out. They both go to bed pretty early but I am a late night person. I get really lonely because pretty much everybody in the hall is out partying at night. I just do not know where to turn to find more people like us. I have hope that in the 2nd semester I will find more straight edge people here, I managed to find a club full of them and I joined the public relations committee to get more members so hopefully it'll work out

that article really helped me... i'm a freshman in college (nyc) and as straightedge as ever, reading about other people who are going through and have gone through the same predicaments that i go through now makes me feel less... alone. all my life i've had best straightedge friends and now in college, there is so much pressure to make friends, they keep talking about beginning to drink so that they can build a better social life. i've always felt like i my social life was weak because of the choices i make and i just had to deal with it, but i think i now have faith that i'll find some edgesters like me : )

Hang in there, guys!!!!!!

I understand it's tough, but just hang on. College only lasts a few years, and after that at least the rampant partying stops. I'm a sophomore at Elizabethtown College, and despite the fact that it's a small school, there's tons of drinking here because there isn't much to do in the middle of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. So the few people who don't drink tend to stay in and do homework or watch movies on weekend nights. I'm an extremely outgoing person, so I hate sitting around like that. My first semester I went out with friends a lot to huge parties at the sports houses, but I quickly got sick of being the only sober person there and having absolutely nothing to do. Since then, I've found that it's more fun to go to people's apartments and hang out, just talking and chilling or playing games... Apples To Apples with drunk people is hilarious! Even if most of my friends are drinking, it's become ok. They understand why I'm sXe, and they're totally ok with it. They'll even defend me if someone tries to make me drink. And I get to be a part of things with them when we play drinking games... like tonight, for example, we were watching "Inglourious Basterds" and drinking every time someone got shot/beaten/suffocated/knifed/etc. (probably not the best idea for a drinking game centered around a Quentin Tarantino film, hahaha)... and I felt included because it was totally ok for me to sit there nursing a black cherry soda while everyone else was growing more and more wasted on mixtures of pink lemonade and vodka. So there are ways to socialise without actually drinking or doing drugs or smoking. It just means sometimes you're the only sober one in the room, and that gets pretty lonely after a while...

Joining clubs and getting involved in events is the best way to meet new people. But no matter where you go, you're going to find people who drink. True, most of my friends who are in Campus Crusade For Christ with me don't drink, but many of them still do. However, I've surprisingly found several friends in the theatre department (I'm a theatre major and am heavily involved in productions here) who don't drink at all (theatre people are notorious partyers).

I think the hardest thing about college and being edge is abstaining from premarital sex. If you're in a relationship with someone, people automatically assume you're having sex. In fact, not only is it condoned, but sex is applauded and encouraged by pretty much everyone in college. This was a huge adjustment from the nondenominational Christian high school I attended. People can't grasp at all why you would wait to have sex with someone, especially why you would refrain from putting yourself in tempting situations or stop at a certain point when making out with someone so that nothing happens. It's in this respect that I truly feel looked down upon.

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Hey
I just turned 17 last week and this is my biggest worry. I'm from Scotland (UK) and since May 2008 I've been straight edge (well before then was only very occasional Peach Schnapps and lemonade with my parents). By the time I was 15, nearly all my friends were drinking or smoking or taking drugs and since my mum didn't want me around that even though I know I would not have given into peer pressure I became pretty alone. I don't why but I thought college would be different so I left a year early to do a one year course at my local college (I guess comparative to a US community college). However what I didn't realise was that my classmates would mostly be 25+ and they all drink, actually most come into college with hangovers and the awkwardness when I first told them I didn't drink was horrible. I later found out the last few remaining that didn't drink when I was in high school finally gave in and got drunk. I have to admit I lost a bit of respect for them after they admitted to me just a few months before that we would never need drink or drugs to make us happy.

In September, I'm going to Aberdeen university for 4 years (over 3 hours north of where I've lived my whole life) and I'm scared. My mum always complains about how anti-social I am but all people in high school and college talk about is what happened at the weekend when they got drunk EVERY SINGLE DAY! I know this blog was meant to be positive about the straight edge lifestyle fitting in with college but we all know it's a hard struggle and that'll we'll never truly fit in and that's what upsets me, who decided we all had to drink and take drugs? Why should we have to feel like outsiders?

I am also not religious, I suck at sports, can't sing or play any instrument, I'm rubbish at singing, I have two left feet, I'm not outdoorsy, I just hope I find some friends because I've lived too long feeling alone.

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