Beach week: one of the most American post-graduate traditions. Right after graduation, before going off to college, you gather your best high school friends and rent a beach house together for a week. The drive is long, the beach house is pretty old and has a frat boy-esque vibe, and the beer is crappy, but you wouldn’t want it any other way. My beach week experience was a pretty good one, but I definitely learned a lot from it. There are a lot of easy mistakes to make during a trip like this, but it truly is an experience that will stick with you forever. It’s that first glimpse of freedom, the last bit of familiarity you’ll experience before the unknown of college begins.
Here are 5 tips to take with you for your trip:
Stick together
Whether on the streets at night or even in your beach house with a co-ed group — one of the most important things is to stick together. Particularly during beach week, there are several groups of teens from different parts of the country. It can get pretty crazy being young and drunk in an unfamiliar place, with thousands of other tourists. Stick together, and leave no woman behind.
Explore
You’re at the beach! The weather alone is enough to inspire adventure. Partying is great, but i highly recommend getting out of the house and exploring the wonders that the beach has to offer: helicopter rides, banana boating, sailing away in a completely outfitted boat – – take advantage of these epic adventures with friends on your week of freedom.
Take pictures — but not too many
Take pictures, snaps, videos. Post on social media, post how much fun you’re having. But dont forget to actually have fun. Capturing the perfect picture surprisingly consumes a lot of time. Make sure to capture the moment first.
Party… with the right company
The whole point of beach week is to get some freedom from your parents, get away from the comfort of your home, and celebrate graduation. Party! Forget your troubles and bask in the glory of your newfound freedom. One of the hardest things to remember is that most of the people you’re partying with are from your high school and that can be kinda intimidating. There will still be pressure and judgment. But, don’t let that hold you back. You’ll probably never see these people again. Stick with your friends and it’ll be the best time of your life.
Take your own space… but don’t take things personally
If this is the first time that you’re living with someone other than family, it can get rough, especially if you’re going with a huge group, there will literally be people everywhere: there is no such thing as personal space. I was fortunate enough to go with a group of 7, but I definitely heard some horror stories. You’ll be homesick, you’ll want privacy and your best friends will get on your nerves. There will be arguments and disagreements. It’s totally normal. But the best thing to remember is to always take space for yourself and to not take things personally. Everyone will get irritated with one another – it’s expected. It’s important to just embrace the moment and the beauty of beginning a new chapter.
