I used to define myself through drinking, primarily scotch and beer. It made me feel cool, helped me fit in, and connected me with people. Drinking replaced the insecurities I had as a fat kid, allowing me to hang out with the popular crowd. In college, however, excessive drinking started affecting my academic performance, and my social circle wasn't exactly the coolest. Nevertheless, I continued drinking heavily and joined a fraternity, where my reputation as a drinker excelled. But this success didn't translate into valuable life skills. As I grew older and graduated, the frequency of drinking slowed down, but it was still a constant presence in my life.