"You remember how it really was? You and me and booze - a threesome."
- Joe Clay ("Days of Wine and Roses", 1962)
You couldn't forget the last event you attended at the English Department. It wasn't your first encounter with the older students, who could help you in your coursework. It wasn't your meeting with the members of the faculty, especially the secretary of the department. (You were told that she would be your guardian angel in horn-rimmed glasses, in case you missed a deadline.) It was your moments with your tutor. You talked about German literature, which he knew a great deal. (And you were impressed.) You noticed how animated he was at some point. And then you wondered if he drank his third glass of red wine. Maybe it was his fourth. You lost count, as you sipped your third. You became confused.
You weren't shocked at all, as alcohol would ease the pressure off your professors. Reading your papers could be stressful, and you imagined their reaction. (You didn't do a good job on proofreading on your last paper.) This kind of occasion was a good opportunity to see both the faculty and students on a casual environment. But you wished it was Hogwarts.
It dawned on you that alcohol would be part of the university. In fact, it was hard to imagine a life without it. This made you guilty, as you recalled the first party you attended two months ago. (You were the first one to pass out. Your housemates thought you were a legend.) Your degree would be the ultimate goal, and there were other things you needed to write on a post-it note. You remembered the following:
There's nothing wrong about water. Tim couldn't believe that you lived on water for a week. You came up with one lame excuse after another. (It was no secret that Tim could drink several cans of beer and he still won't pass out.) You were brought up to believe in a healthy lifestyle, and it helped you so far. But you wanted to make new friends.
It's OK to turn down an invitation. This is your first year in the university, and you're not good in the art of procrastination. And you don't intend to master it. Time management is not easy, but it's a skill that you'll be good at it. You keep on remindring yourself to focus on your coursework during weekdays, and then allow yourself to relax at weekends.
You can drink beer. No one is prohibiting you from getting drunk. (It already happened once.) But peer pressure is another thing. (It's up to you.) Remember that there are instances when you should know better.
