How to do the night right as a university student
Photo by Mico Mazza
Halloween can be a stressful time for students. Costume assembling, themed parties, and movie marathons are often at odds with midterms, part-time jobs, and essay writing.
Here are some dos and don’ts to keep your All Hallow’s Eve as enjoyable and guilt-free as possible.
Don’t: Go trick-or-treating
I know you’re a poor student and you love candy, but that’s no excuse for acting like a 12-year-old. There is a natural time when you should stop trick-or-treating, and that is when you develop facial hair or receive your high school diploma.
Do: Think outside the box
Ladies, please don’t be a sexy cat or a sexy policewoman, you’re better than that! Halloween is the one night that you can let your imagination go wild and dress as anything you want, so be creative. I know it might be hard to believe, but you don’t actually have to be naked on Halloween.
Don’t: Buy a pre-assembled costume
Why fork out $50 on a cheaply made zip-up onesie? Even though it’s easy to grab a costume from the store, you can find everything you need by looking through your closet, Dollarama and Value Village for less than half the cost. On top of saving money, getting compliments on a costume you threw together out of junk is sort of exhilarating.
Do: Dress up with friends
Dressing up for Halloween is always fun, but what’s even better is having a costume buddy. A couple of Despicable Me minions, Jesse Pinkman and Walter White, or Derek Zoolander and Mugatu—the combinations are endless. Whether you go out to a bar or a party, other people will notice your efforts.
Don’t: Dress as Miley Cyrus at the VMAs
I am a huge Miley fan and I know some of you are shaking your heads, but dressing up as her for Halloween might not be all that brilliant or original. Don’t be too surprised when you show up to a bar and a handful of girls, maybe even a couple of guys, had the same idea and are waving their foam fingers. It would be like dressing up as Natalie Portman the year Black Swan came out.
Do: Have a movie marathon
If you have work or a midterm at 8:30 a.m. the next day, who says you have to go out? Stay in, make some treats, and invite your friends over for a Halloween movie marathon. It’s university; odds are there will be another party to dress up for on the weekend, so for the moment enjoy all the horror clichés and bad character decisions you can take.
Don’t: Use body paint if you’re looking for a Halloween hook-up
No one wants to get up close and personal with someone whose costume might rub off on them. I know being an Avatar or Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride might seem like a cool idea, but if you are looking to leave a party with someone, think about your decision before you cover yourself in blue paint.
