College students should seek other methods for fun beyond partying, if not for their goals and grades, then for their health.

College is meant to be fun, and partying seems to be the primary source of fun for Wichita State students, but like all good things, students must do it in moderation.

College has much more to offer than just partying.

Academics must come first. No debate.

The primary reason students attend college is to earn a degree and gain a skillset so they can have a career, not a job.

Students should not spend years trying to earn a degree, spending thousands of dollars, just to end up back home working a local part-time job.  

Partying is fun, but it is not worth damaging career goals. Instant gratification is just that — instant — it won’t last long. There’s a process to sustained success, and there are no shortcuts.

If partying is the only reason a student goes to college, they should drop out now.

Partying can be the start of any college student’s downfall if he or she isn’t mature enough to focus on the big picture. One of the biggest concerns people have with partying is the influence older individuals have on younger individuals.

Most college freshmen began doing things they customarily wouldn’t do, such as smoking and drinking.

Jackie Burrell, a writer for youngadults.about.com had some strong, insightful information in one of her columns that will benefit college students greatly.

That’s how serious drinking and partying can be. Does that correlate to short- and long-term goals? If it doesn’t, why bother? There’s more to life and far better methods of having fun. Give it a thought next time you pick up a cup filled with alcohol.

About 3.36 million students have reported driving under the influence at some point in their lives.

So I ask the question, “Why risk your health for one night of partying?” It doesn’t make sense.

Students should thoroughly seek knowledge about what they’re getting involved with. I’m sure many of them know how bad drinking can be, but how much they actually know is in question.

There is a phrase: when you know better, you do better.

And we have to do better.