It’s that time of the year when exams are coming to an end and everyone is planning the perfect way to celebrate.  It’s that time when everyone wants to let their hair down after the stress of the exams and mainly because a lot of classmates will be missed during the holiday season. As innocent as these reasons may seem not all “pens down” parties have the desirable outcomes.Image Courtesy: Babette Jansen van Rensburg @ www.art.swg.co.za

For high school kids there is the big issue of underage drinking and the horror stories follow there after! Everything from unprotected sex, getting a bad reputation, drinks being spiked and with technology these days there are leaks of videos where people are at the least flattering. That one day of partying that could have long lasting and extremely terrible effects.

There are a few things to make sure of when you attend a party of the sort:

Be yourself:

Stick to all your principles, values and everything that makes sense to you. Don’t do anything just because you are influenced by your peers. You know what they say: “only dead fish go with the flow”.

Always make sure that someone has your back!

Be with a close friend, someone you completely trust. If you cannot be certainly sure that there is someone who will give you the heads up if things start going pear-shaped then rather not go at all. Do the same for your friend and keep an eye on each other in the midst of the good times.

Drink responsibly:

If you are over 18, drink moderately and know when to stop.  Also make sure that you monitor your drink at all times.

Protect your image:

Avoid all scandals because at the end of it all, everyone will know! Ok, so maybe today may be the perfect day to get your flirt on with that boy you’ve liked for months now but always ask yourself before you do anything whether or not you will be comfortable with your actions the next day.  Don’t be afraid to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right and always trust your instinct.

Consider other activities to do to have fun:

Try paintballing, go-carting, bunjee jumping, All-You-Can-Eat places or even picnics. These are just as equally cool and fun ways of saying goodbye to your mates!

Avoid first times:

G2g’s are the last place where you should be trying anything for the first time! Absolutely anything! You have no idea how things will turn out so it is best that you do not attempt something that you don’t know how it will affect you. At the end of the day it’s about building good memories. The type of memories that you will look back at and smile!