Member-only story
I Confessed To My Teens That I Was a “Wild Child” Who Smoked Pot, Partied, Dated a Lot, Skinny-Dipped, and Cut Class
But I also made sure they knew I worked hard and got top grades.
There was a time when I thought to myself, “What will my kids think if they knew how I was in college?” I partied, smoked pot more than once (and yes, I did inhale), drank too much, skinny-dipped at the beach, danced on the speakers at the club, cut class, and indulged in other questionable behaviors.
At the same time, I still managed to take a heavy course load (16 or more units per quarter every quarter), work 10–15 hours week as a research assistant, and graduate from UCLA in just four years with honors. Many of my friends were 5th and 6th year seniors as they took lighter loads or changed majors late in the game.
I remember the “Purity test” that was circulating in the mid-90s when I was in college. A quick google search shows that it’s still around (although it’s apparently been updated to ask a question about whether you’ve ever sexted!). Let’s just say I look far more innocent than I am.
I debated withholding the truth from my daughters as I didn’t want them to lose respect for me as a parent. But I also think about how I know nearly nothing about my immigrant…
