Towson University

« Internet Research Could Save your Life | Main | Searching for shade structures California »

When I went home for fall break last weekend my little sister who is ten was telling me about how she is having a Halloween party at our house and inviting all of her friends. So over the weekend my dad took her to the store to get party supplies. She came home with so much stuff; I couldn't believe she convinced my dad into buying it all for her.

When I was younger I always had a themed birthday party, and I also had a yearly Valentine's Day party but for the most part that was it. One of my other friends always had a really good Halloween party that everyone went to all throughout grade school. I remember how we would always compete for the best theme at our birthday parties. Like the month before our birthday we would start planning out every little detail, it would drive our parent's nuts, they would have to drive us around everywhere and make or order all of the food and help us decorate and send out invitations. We always said we were the ones that planned it, but really our parents did it all.

We had some pretty great themes though. Roller-skating parties used to be a big deal in sixth and seventh grade and there was a part where they would turn the lights off and turn the black lights on and we would all have glow sticks that we skated around with. Then in our party favors at the end it would have glow necklaces in them, which we thought were so cool when we were 12 years old.

When I really think about it college and grade school aren't that different. Sure, the beverages served at the party (and probably the things that happen after the party) are a little bit different, but people are still planning themed parties and competing to have the best bash. I went to a luau party at the beginning of the school year and it was great. It was thrown by a frat that is down the street from my house and it was so cool. They had a bonfire and everyone wore grass skirts or swimsuits and my friends and I wore flowers in our hair. The atmosphere is so much better when there is a theme to the party I have found. It seems like people are more relaxed when they are dressed like everyone else and playing along with the theme.