Everyone has experienced them; those weekends where you and your mates thought it’d be a great idea to cancel all your plans, get absolutely smashed and create some memories (even if the details are a little fuzzy).

It might be someone’s birthday or the end of exams but no matter the occasion, you tell yourselves that it’s going to be the best weekend ever.

Day 1

First Year

You’ve worked out whose house is closest to town so you wont be spending a fortune on Uber rides all weekend. You’re pumped up and have probably started to pre-drink before you’ve even finished getting ready.

You hit the town after a few rounds of King’s Cup and no doubt finish the night with a standard Macca’s run.

Final Year

Your version of pre-drinking now includes pre-eating because you’re a little wiser and know that lining your stomach is the most important part of the evening.

You’ll find yourself purposefully dragging out the getting ready process and will have to blast Beyoncé to get in the mood for the night ahead.

Also, you no longer get annoyed when someone asks if the group can go home. Rather, you secretly thank them because your feet are killing you. That late night Maccas feed is now a necessity as the greasy goodness is the only thing that’ll help to dull your hangover in the morning. 

Day 2

First Year

You are dead to the world until at least the early afternoon and most likely have slept away your hangover.

You probably lost one or two people overnight but the remainder of your group will sit together and make jokes about all the stupid shit you got up to.

You’ve already powered your way through the good booze and will have to trade in the double blacks and raspberry cruisers for a sack of goon and orange juice. Somehow, you manage to see the sunrise as you all stagger home together.

Final Year

Your hangover lasts well into the afternoon and at least half of your group has bailed out of the second night. You’re wondering why you committed to this weekend in the first place and are secretly hoping everyone wants to stay in rather than hit the clubs again.

At least you’ve learnt from your mistakes by making sure you have enough of your favourite bevvy to last you, and thank god because you can no longer stomach the goon. It’s not until everyone is out dancing that you realise it wasn’t just you who wanted to stay in. Although now you’re out you decide you might as well enjoy yourselves.

Day 3

First Year

By now you’re all feeling worse for wear but still believe that this is one of the greatest weekends of your life. You all want to have the bragging rights of spending an entire weekend partying so you make your way to a bar.

It’s scungy and cheap and you all crowd around a table with crackling leather seats, sharing jugs of shitty beer.

Final Year

You’re old enough to know your limit and are no longer afraid to tap out. You suggest that everyone comes over, watches Netflix and eats pizza.

Nursing your hangovers together doesn’t make it seem so bad and everyone’s gone by midnight because no one wants to be hungover three days in a row.

Whether you’re in your first or final year of uni, you’ll realise that a bender is always a horrible idea. However, it’ll be a weekend you’ll remember (if only in bits and pieces).

Mackenzie is a recent graduate who currently has no idea what direction her career is going in. She tells people her hobbies include surfing and hiking to make her sound more interesting but really all she does in her free time is go out for coffee and brunch. 

(Lead image: Mindy Project/FOX)