You Can Retake a Class, But You Can’t Retake a Party
The party invitation lights up my screen, tempting me like a siren call. Sure, a party sounds fun, but can it really compete with the thrill of calculus? My textbooks seem to whisper, “Pick us! We promise no awkward small talk or embarrassing dance moves!” So, I type a quick response to the host: “Thanks for the invite, but I have a very important class that I can’t miss. Who wouldn’t want to spend their night unraveling the mysteries of quadratic equations?” As I hit send, I grin, knowing that while others are out partying, I’ll be deep in the academic zone — now that’s a celebration worth having!
“Why do I choose class over parties? Because at least with a textbook, the only thing judging me is the margin notes, not a room full of strangers!”
In life, there are many opportunities to redo things — especially in academia. You can fail a class, study harder, and retake it. But when it comes to parties, everything is different. A party has come and gone, and when it is gone, it is gone. One simple fact explains what makes social gatherings, as well as other experiences, as memorable and often regrettable as they are.
Now, it’s Friday night and you are in the predicament of deciding whether to stay home with the books or go out with friends for a party. You decide on the responsible way and really delve into the books, thinking you can catch up later with friends. Come Monday and everyone’s talking about that wild party you missed. Stories of great dance moves, hilarious mishaps, and even a cake fight fill the air. You sit quietly, wishing you had gone along, feeling left out while everyone else enjoyed the show.
Retaking a class in school allows one to learn a subject all over again. “I get a second chance to do it right this time,” you may think. Maybe next semester you could appear, armed with knowledge and ready to conquer. Parties work a little differently. They are like shooting stars-beautiful and fleeting. That is to say, when the night is over, you can never turn back or ever relive that night; all you have is the memory of others.
Now, this lack of memorability might just turn out to be a sorrowful event, for friends call to remember the most favorite moments and it is realized that one has missed memories and deepened friendships. While they’re discussing the memorable events that happened during that weekend, you are left with mundane facts. You are not sharing laughs over the funny moment you experienced at the party but rather how you have fought your textbooks once more.
Why are then parties so important?
They provide the opportunity to be a part of something, to be spontaneous in ways the classroom never can. In school, lectures, tests, and assignments take center stage. Parties give center stage to laughter, dance, and happy times shared between friends. It’s these very experiences that create bonds to stay for a lifetime. Where you may get straight A’s in school and top grades, the enrichment in life comes from experiences shared with friends.
In short, you can redo a class anytime, but you can never repoll a party. Life is all about choices. More than once you find it really urgent to have fun rather than be responsible. After all, parties are memories which you can carry and laugh about for quite some time. And the next time you are left to choose between studying and taking a leave, remember: some chances come only once. Do not let the opportunity to dance, laugh, and have a wonderful life slip through your fingers-you won’t be sorry!
