Do you have a birthday that falls outside the time we’re in school? Maybe it’s in the summer, or maybe it falls smack dab in the middle of winter break. If so, you qualify to become a member of the Forgotten Birthdays Club. Welcome! We’re happy to have you.
College Celebrations
One of the highlights of the college experience is celebrating your birthday surrounded by all of your best friends. You host a party, invite as many people as can fit into your small apartment and celebrate all night.
21st birthdays are especially extraordinary at Penn State. You host your evening soirée the day before your birthday, and when the clock strikes midnight, you pop the champagne and hit as many bars as you can before they close for the night.
However, if you have a birthday that doesn’t happen during school, your special day might look a little different.
Birthday In The Summer? That’s A Bummer.
Having a birthday during school vacation definitely has its perks. For one, you may be home with family, and people who have birthdays during school may not get to celebrate with their immediate loved ones. Being surrounded by relatives is a great way to honor another trip around the sun, and it can bring back the nostalgia of childhood celebrations.
If your birthday falls during the summer, you also have the incredible weather on your side (as long as there’s not a random thunderstorm). This opens the opportunity to have an outdoor celebration or even schedule a little summer vacation. The perfect birthday vibes are easily achievable during this sunny season.
The one downside to having a birthday outside of school is missing the chance to party with your university friends. You come back to school, and it’s almost as if people forgot that you also age at some point. How else would you just be able to magically turn up at the bars?
You Deserve Your Moment
For all of our members of the Forgotten Birthdays Club, we see you and we hear you. Even though you may be at peace with your birthdate (as it does have its pros), you deserve to be celebrated. Our solution: have a birthday party during the school year!
Wait, is that kind of narcissistic? Not at all. Your friends will likely love to celebrate you, even if it’s a bit earlier or later than normal. Plus, who doesn’t love an extra party?
As a member of the FBC, you have total freedom to choose how you celebrate. Pick a day that best suits you and your friends’ schedules. Maybe you choose to party on your half-birthday, or maybe you find the perfect day when no one has any commitments.
Go All Out
Once you have your day picked out, here comes the fun part: choosing a theme. A themed celebration is not a requirement, but why not go all out? One idea that’s been gaining popularity is a wig party, where everyone attending wears a brightly colored wig of their choice. Another classic college theme is Y2K, where everyone wears throwback clothes from the early 2000s and jams out to the best tunes of the decade.
If you’re 21-plus, tack on a mini bar crawl to end the night. The best part is, you won’t have to wait until midnight to hit the town.
Most importantly, don’t forget to get a cake or your favorite sweet treat. We’re not saying you need to buy candles and have everyone sing, but enjoying your favorite dessert will make your non-birthday party that much sweeter.
Just Have Fun
Whenever and however you choose to spend your out-of-school birthday, VALLEY hopes that you give yourself a chance to shine, because every birthday deserves to be celebrated. Although being a part of the Forgotten Birthdays Club can seem like a downside, it really just gives you an extra opportunity to party and spend time with friends.
How do you spend your birthday at Penn State? Let us know on Instagram, @VALLEYmag!
