Beach Week is intended to be a celebration of our hard work, successes in high school and our transition to college or work careers. It’s a time to catch rays, be with friends (many for the last time), relax and have fun. But let’s be honest, beach week is a time when some graduates do partake in drinking, using recreational drugs, and having sex.

But aren’t all these actions possible here in Annandale as well?

These opportunities surround us all now and will for the rest of our lives. It is up to us to make good decisions. It is a time to relax and get away from the stresses of school and everyday life, as well as a last “hoorah” to enjoy our final summer together as Annandale’s graduating class of 2012.

Yes, beach week has a bad reputation, but one must remember that it is a small number of the graduates themselves whom make the bad decisions. Not all of those who attend Beach Week find themselves in the hospital, going to jail, paying fines, and/or calling mommy and daddy for help.

For the most part, parents are not ignorant to the spectacles of beach week. They too have participated in the tradition, and if not, have heard about what goes on.

Students will gain many new experiences while attending beach week, mostly positive, but sometimes negative. It is a chance for each individual graduate to display how mature and responsible they can be to their parents and peers.

For some, it is the first time they will be unsupervised by their parents and things may get a little “messy” as they struggle with their new-found “freedom.” It is up to the graduates themselves as to how they react in these situations. This gives us the chance to prove to our parents and ourselves that we are capable of handling the opportunities that lie ahead of us at college.

Though some take advantage of this freedom, the entire graduating class should not be stereotyped as immature, hormone driven, alcohol obsessed robots.

Let’s face it. Parents aren’t thrilled about us going to what some may believe is “Girls Gone Wild,” but my dear friends, it is all about trust. If your parents don’t trust you, most likely it’s because you’ve done something to make them lose trust in you. Just like most opportunities in life, you can either make the most of it and have a enjoyable and positive experience, or you can go in the other direction and ruin it for yourself. Your friends and others you may not even know and who may follow in your footsteps.

Contrary to popular belief, our parents actually want us to enjoy ourselves and trust us to be safe. Some parents this year have opted to actually go along for the trip, while staying a close, but reasonable distance away. We as kids need to be responsible, and though for some it is harder than others, should talk to our parents about our beach week plans. By bringing up the conversation in a calm and level headed manner, they’ll respect our efforts and hopefully view it as a sign of responsibility. We should remind parents about all the things we’ll be doing other than the assumed activities, such as playing frisbee, tanning, fishing, meeting new people, and checking out the boardwalk.

So, YES, beach week is different – it’s meant to be.  It’s not a week-long “all-night graduation party” under full control of your parents.  For the majority, it’s a week of fun, sun and friends.  It’s a week that will be remembered long past this summer.  Just ask your parents – Do you remember YOUR beach week, did you have fun and wasn’t it one of the greatest weeks of your life?