Secret Weapons

Knowing when to say when.

• Learn your limit, it’s different for everybody.
  
• Look for those little things that tell you that you’ve had enough, like when you start to trip over words, or your own feet, or start doing things that you know you would not do if you were sober.

Dealing with pressure to drink.

• If you don’t want to drink, don’t. Just say no.
  
• You will gain more respect by showing a firmness of character when you say you have had enough for the night.
  
• Use sarcasm “Sure I’ll have another drink, if you will hold my hair while I puke later.”
  
• Have your glass full so it looks like you’re drinking or don’t need another.
  
• Volunteer to be the sober rep.
  
• They are drunk, distract them by pointing out the attractive person across the room, bright shiny object, etc.

Date rape drugs.

• Go out with friends as they will look after you and make sure that they know your plan for the evening.
  
• Don’t leave your drink anywhere, make sure you keep an eye on it all the time, keep your hand over the top and don’t be afraid to waste a drink and get rid of it if you are
  not sure.
  
• Don’t take drinks from someone you don’t trust.
  
• If a guy offers to buy you a drink, go with him to the bar, watch the bartender open it or pour it and make sure the bartender hands it to you. Don’t just trust the guy to bring you the drink because that is prime opportunity.
  
• Same goes for residence and parties, don’t leave yourself open.
  
• Don’t be naïve. It can happen here.

Taking great notes.

• Develop your own short hand.
  
• Some professors have their own short hand too, so ask them for translations at the beginning of the term.
  
• Find a buddy so that between the two of you, you can sort out a professor’s writing.
  
• Professors can make mistakes too. Don’t be afraid to ask if something does not make sense or is unclear.
  
• Rewrite or type up your notes to refresh what you learned in class.
  
• Keep an eye out for those professors that are merely reading from the text book. There is no sense in madly copying down the stuff they are reading from the book.
  
• Learn to distill the important ideas and write them down rather than everything.