With the upsurge of clubs everywhere, especially since L.A.-the colorful haven of nightlife-is nearby, teens here and there are plunging into dangerous acts to satisfy their craving for fun.

But the definition of fun is relative. It is wrong to criticize somebody because his idea of having a good time is different from what you think is fun-which brings us to the question, what constitutes fun and who decides if an activity is fun or not?

I went to the EC homecoming dance last Saturday, and although it wasn’t highly publicized nor was it lavishly decorated like most of the dances we were used to in high school, I had a blast with a small group of friends.

We were dancing for a good three hours or so, and it was wonderful. And we didn’t even have to do anything illegal to have a grand time.

We did each other’s hair, picked together the dresses that we wore, and rode together to the dance-and each of us had a wonderful time.

When you get really drunk, you tend to black out and forget all the things that happened during a party-where is fun in that? You don’t have to follow people who go out every Saturday night getting drunk, if it feels violating. There may be people who may think that having a drinking routine every so-and-so night is the ultimate embodiment of fun, but this definition is not universal.

If you’re not the type who enjoys drinking, then being with people who pressure you into going out to consume innumerable amounts of alcohol or drugs may be bad for you physically and mentally.

People who know how to have a good time but also keep in mind their limitations would make a great support group. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is a support program that provides awareness of peer pressures and what one can do to overcome this stress. They supply handbooks and have a whole range of communication tips between friends and family.

We are overwhelmed with television commercials that present beer as the ultimate personification of fun. The scenario is played like this-somebody is down, his friend offers a bottle of beer, and then he suddenly transforms into a cheerful version of himself and he’s ready to take anything by the second.

The media is sending us mixed messages about drinking and smoking. Tobacco companies are obliged to show us that smoking is bad, but they’ll compensate for this in another area, like increasing the hype about by advertising in magazines that target teens.

I enjoy sitting outside in the afternoon, reading books, writing my heart out or enjoying the sun. Or sharing updates and life experiences with a group of close friends over a cup of coffee. It’s simple, and that’s my idea of fun. It’s not too hard to reach, and if I want to, I can do these every day. The bottom line is, you need to define what’s fun for you and live within those means.

Don’t get me wrong, I love dancing and going to parties as well. But if you only define fun as going to parties, then it becomes limiting.

Downing bottle after bottle of beer just because you want to have a good time leads to addiction, because when you get depressed one day, you tend to look for solace in guzzling alcohol and you become dependent on it because you think that it’s the only thing that will give you fun. The key to having fun is to indulge in the things that really matter and to devote your energy in honing your craft or hobbies.

Find something that you’re passionate about, like a talent, sport, or person, and you will be less likely to get involved in troublesome acts. You don’t have to drink to have fun, and drinking doesn’t always equal fun.