St. Patrick’s Day at Laurier is a tradition, where most of the student population swarms Ezra, turning the street into a sea of green. You will find plenty of advice on where to go, what to do, what to wear, and how to party the night away, but what if you’re not really the partying type, or you have a huge paper due the next day? I’ve got you covered. Surviving St. Paddy’s at Laurier as a non-partier takes a little bit of planning and some patience with your good-natured and drunk fellow students, but you can absolutely have a great time without going out, if that’s your thing!
1. Plan beforehand
It may sound a bit ridiculous, but have some groceries and essentials on hand before March 17th, because let’s be real: there is no way you can drive a car on Ezra to get some much-needed milk or bread. So, prepare and have whatever you need so you don’t need to play what amounts to a life or death version of Frogger, and everyone is safe and happy (and you don’t have to starve).
2. Find somewhere to go/stay for a period of time
We all know that being the sober person around drunk people is never fun, and if you don’t want to party, you’ll definitely want to stay away and let the party people have their fun! So, stay comfy at home in your PJs, or set yourself up in the 24 lounge to do some work or just watch Netflix for 6 hours. Either way, you can have your own space to do what you want to do without feeling like you’re stuck in a rave when you don’t want to be. An extra plus is that, with most of the rest of campus busy partying, the study spots on campus will likely be less busy, and you can sit pretty much wherever you want. If you’ve always wanted to get into one of the impossible to snag group study rooms, this would be your best chance!
3. Go to class
I know you’re thinking, “No one else is going to class, so why should I?” Well, professors know what day it is and they know that a majority of students won’t be there, so they might cancel class if only a few show up, and then you don’t have to miss out anything important. Or, as I’ve had a professor do in the past, they might give out secrets or special points, like what will be on the midterm or final exam, and who doesn’t want an extra help to ace their final? Lastly, your professor might notice that you were one of a few students who showed up and look favourably on you, which can definitely help if they are the one marking your assignments and remember that you came to class when no one else did.
4. Be patient
As I mentioned before, it isn’t as much fun to be sober when everyone else is drunk. That being said, if that isn’t your thing, you’re probably going to run in with people who are partying, and that’s okay. It can be a bit frustrating to try and get through the crowd or deal with the noise, but sometimes you have to just let it go, put on your headphones, and turn the volume up. It’s often much easier to accept that things will be a bit different than a normal day, and it can often be a way better choice. I mean, who wants to get into a fight with the drunk girl in your hallway because you made a comment under your breath? I definitely don’t.
St. Patrick’s Day may be known for a day of green beer, partying, and skipping class, but that’s not all it has to be. If the idea of a party sounds less than appealing, you can absolutely enjoy St. Patrick’s Day without going to one, and hopefully this helps you find a great place to get comfy, have your snacks, and enjoy your March 17th. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!