Without a doubt, there always comes a night during the week when you ask yourself: Should I go out tonight? You may have finished your homework earlier than expected, know of something going on off campus, or have a late start to class the next day. No matter the reason, there always seems to be some sort of negative stigma against going out, as if you’re sacrificing something academically because you’re having a night to yourself. Is there some sort of trade-off between academics and going out? Especially on a weekday?

While I don’t think anyone should go out during the week instead of doing their work due the next day, there’s absolutely no problem with going out when you find that you have a free night or even planning a night out by finishing all your work a day or two beforehand. Just because some people may find themselves out on Wednesday or Thursday nights doesn’t mean others should pass judgement on their grades or their work ethic. Going out is supposed to be a fun, stress-free experience, and it does not warrant any assumptions about who you are as a person.

College is a time in our lives when we should be figuring out who we are, whether that be academically, socially or through some other aspect of our lives. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: One day in the future, all of us are going to walk across the stage and receive a degree from Washington University in St. Louis. What comes before that matters of course, but with all the work we do, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to have fun.