Kappa Kappa Gamma Blog Post

Last week, I had an opportunity to be a guest blogger on the Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity website. Here's the link to the post
http://blog.kappakappagamma.org/?p=1707.

The post was on National Alcohol Awareness Week (which was last week) and it was fun to write primarily because I learned a bunch during my research for the post! Check it out below:

"Sometimes in college, students may think and act like alcohol is the equivalent of water, but unfortunately alcohol is far from a harmless substance. This week is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and around 800 campuses are participating in events to raise awareness. The theme this year is “Raise your voice! You can save a life!” I love this theme because all too often college students find themselves in sticky situations with alcohol and might be too timid to speak up.

This week is dedicated to safety in all aspects of dealing with alcohol, such as avoiding excessive drinking, never drinking and driving, and never riding with someone who has been drinking. Planning ahead can save you from being in a predicament when it comes to drinking. If you are 21 and going to drink, have a sober friend drive you and know your limits before you start. The sponsor of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, The BACCHUS Network (Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students), has created a helpful tool to keep you safe when you are planning to drinking alcohol:

0 drinks = if you are underage, pregnant or taking medication

1 = one drink per hour

1-2 = no more than one to two times per week

3-4 = total number of drinks on one occasion

According towww.collegedrinkingprevention.gov,  about 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers and receiving lower grades overall. Sometimes alcohol and partying can make it easy to forget why you are in college, but we must remember it’s for an education!

Just keep these numbers in mind and you can ensure a safe, fun, and healthy college career. Many of you have probably heard these tips a million times from parents or other adults in your life, but I challenge you to actually apply them. One less drink or one taxi fare could not only save your life but others’ lives too.

So instead of drinking this weekend, here are a few things you can do:

• Pile some sisters and friends in the car and go to a movie
• Try a girls’ night in with board games and old movies
• Go on a weekend road trip with your friends exploring all the small towns around your school
• Go to a concert, art show or musical
• Make dinner or bake with your sisters
• Make a craft for a friend"