Think again before picking up that beer after playing a fifth round of beer pong. Somewhere, deep in the rusty recesses of your mind, remember your dignity. You are a college student. Walk past the Girls Gone Wild auditions and the beer bongs and take a seat. Repeat: You are a college student.

This means that you are to be a member of the Esteemed, the Scholarly, the Elite: a lucky student who pressed on through the tumultuous times of high school to that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, college. Study, study, study. Right? Or perhaps you had a different agenda. Take late classes. Sleep through them and wait until Thursday to party. Repeat until the pinnacle of all things collegiate: spring break.

Every year, millions of the Esteemed flock to touristy destinations; Florida is a hotspot. Why fly somewhere else when you live in everyone’s favorite peninsula? The warm weather offers a wonderful alternative to college students who get their education in harsher climates. However, living in Florida year round gives a very unique perspective at how stupid college students can act during spring break.

Beyond the martinis, shots and beer lies a fundamental need to let loose after working hard through the winter months. However, letting loose does not necessarily mean drinking. There are plenty of activities that a group of college students can participate in as an alternative.

“Bodies, the Exhibition,” which offers a unique opportunity to see the inner workings of the human body firsthand, runs through April 2 at the Museum of Science and Industry. Right near MOSI is the Renaissance Fair, which runs until the end of next week. The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg offers the largest collection of Dali’s work in the world and is free to USF students. Busch Gardens is five minutes away from USF and offers fun for all ages with its impressive zoo, landscaping and roller coasters. For the musically inclined, the city of Sunrise is hosting the fourth annual Langerado Music Fest, including bands such as Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, The Black Crowes, The Flaming Lips, Wilco and The Meters.

There is no excuse for those who think there is nothing else to do for spring break than drink. And while it is their choice, safety should be the No. 1 concern for anyone. Stay safe and be responsible this break. Remember that you are representing an institution. You are a college student.