Partying Tops Youthful ‘On Own’ Summer

Last week, I covered the phenomenon. I explained what a senior house is and its appeal in the social culture of young people at the Jersey Shore. So unsurprisingly, this combination of shared adolescent ideals combined with the unbridled freedom of living alone for a summer, brings out the very “best” in teenage partying and debauchery.
When I spoke to students who spent their summers in a senior house, I asked what the best part of the summer was so far, and as if by uniform instruction, each responded with some version of ‘Partying.’
And so, without further ado, I will share what goes on inside the walls of Avalon capes and Sea Isle duplexes, as 18-year-olds cover their large sliding glass doors with black trash bags (to hide their under-aged activities from police). They fill their freezers with liquor (to serve their guests), tie chandeliers up and out of harm’s way, and stash the rental property’s valuables into the back closets.
The kids agreed, most of the parties start the same way. One boy explained that when he comes home from work at 9:30 p.m. “There’s (already) people at my house, 20 to 30 kids, upperclassmen and lower classmen. And it’s always messy. Everyone’s drinking, and there’s music playing.”
He added that by the time he gets home from work “I’m pretty tired– but I’m also pretty hyped to see everyone.” He said most nights he texts his girlfriend, “What are you doing? Come over if you can.”
From there, the text messages start flying. Another boy shared “Friday or Saturday we’ll pregame at our house (until 9), and then head to (a party) at another house. When I get back (from work) around 6:30,  everyone else has already been drinking all day.”
He explained, “Around 9:30 p.m. we’ll Jitney, and stay (at the party) until midnight.”
He added,“We usually listen to Biggie Smalls or Meek Mill; we’re texting everyone, all of the senior houses, and ask ‘What are you doing? What’s good? Where are the parties tonight?’” He said, “Once the pre-game ends, we head to the party and drink more.”
Another boy shared that the Fourth of July was the most fun he had at a party during his senior summer. “We were smoking cigars, drinking beers, listening to Bruce Springsteen and “God Bless America” … just getting rowdy as s—.”
Still another boy said that his most favorite memory was during Shark Week, when all of his friends “Wore the same shirt, the Shark Week shirt, and all named ourselves a (type of) shark; we all showed up rowdy as f—.” He added “It doesn’t matter” when asked if he preferred hosting or attending parties but explained, “Usually we Uber back to Sea Isle (City) from Avalon if the party is in Avalon– (but) I never pay for the Uber.” 
Two girls explained that for them “The time we tried to have a party” was the least fun they had during their senior summer.
They lamented that to throw a party; they need to have the right ‘set up’ for it, and their house just doesn’t meet the bill.
Those girls live next door to two more senior property owners, and their house is small. One girl expanded on their experience throwing a party, “You couldn’t move (in our house), and when you told the boys to get out (of our house), they would laugh, or call us a name or throw beer in our faces. And then it got so bad that we had to run away before the cops come and cite our house. Everyone (told us our) party s—–.”
When I went to interview another group, they had predicted that the rave party they were planning that night (complete with a blacked-out room, glowing lights, body paint, and a disco ball) would be the most fun that they had had all summer.
The rave-themed party was a play on techno-music “rave” concerts, where patrons dress in all white and neon, to have their bodies glow under the neon lights while a techno DJ moves at the turntable.
Later, another group of girls would agree, “the rave” was the most fun they had had during the senior summer.
One girl reminisced, “I think usually in (our own) house we’re a little bit uptight because we’re afraid of getting in trouble. But (at their rave) I took shots, rolled up in a bathing suit top and white shorts, flash tats, hair in a pony.” She added “It was really sweaty, and I don’t know why (the rave) was fun, but it was so fun! People threw beer everywhere. I was just groovin’.”
“The parties” one girl agreed, when asked about her most favorite part of the senior summer. She added “They’re pretty nice. (We) get really hype and drunk; it’s a good time!” She added that her fondest memory was throwing a ‘Darty,’ or a ‘Day-Party’ upon moving into their rental party.
She explained, “We moved in around two o’clock, but (had) decided the week prior that we’re throwing a banger (as soon as we get there). Probably not the best idea, but it started off great. At 3 o’clock people start showing up, and we barely had our stuff unpacked; the decorations are up, so everything that needs to be done is ready, and everyone just shows up, and it was the best day party, like ever. (We were) so hyped and everyone came in and was just (saying)] ‘We’re here, senior summer, let’s go.’  I’ve never seen that much energy.”
The boys shared that the night wraps up pretty uniformly for most houses, too.
One explained, “We head back to our house around 1 or 2 a.m., and we always go to (a convenience store). We eat so much from there. We usually walk back to our house or bike, and bike cops may or may not pull us over.”
Another agreed, “A lot of stuff happens after (we leave the party), with multiple (convenience store) stops along the way.” One boy explained “and we’ll wake up the next morning … hungover as s—.”
In conclusion, one boy insisted, “I haven’t had like a bad time down here, that’s the thing. Like it’s so fun. But I haven’t really had a (bad time) to be honest with you, I mean, working s—s.”
Undoubtedly, parties of epic proportion are bound to erupt when young people come together to live on their own for an entire three months, As may be guessed, those parties come with interaction from law enforcement and tensions with one another.
In the next installment, I’ll cover how these young people get into and out of sticky situations with their peers and the police.