Bachelorette on a Budget: College Escapades and Breaking Stereotypes

A good friend recently encouraged me to start sharing more of the funny, chaotic, and joyfully human stories from my early 20s. At first, I hesitated—some of these tales are a little wild, and I wasn’t sure how they’d land with family or more “serious” audiences. But then I realized: these stories matter. They help challenge the outdated notion that disabled individuals don’t—or can’t—have the same kinds of experiences as other young adults.

So here’s one of my favorites.

Back in college, most of my personal care workers were around the same age as me. We were a tight-knit group of six or so, and like many college students, we were always looking for a fun night out, without breaking the bank. One evening, we decided to throw a fake bachelorette party. Why? Because it sounded hilarious, and because we knew it would be a creative way to stretch our limited funds and get drunk in the process.

We hit the dollar store with a mission: ring pops, blow pops, a plastic tiara, a bachelorette sash, and some colorful flower leis. We also stopped by a Planned Parenthood that offered free condoms and Plan B’s—because, well, we were committed to the bit.

I wore an old Halloween costume: a black and pink football jersey dress, white leggings, the tiara, and the sash. I even moved a vacation souvenir ring to my left hand to complete the “engaged” look. My friends helped me pin condoms to my outfit, and we tucked Blow Pops into my cleavage for a cheeky party game- Suck-for-a-buck.

We hit the town, played our games, and soaked up the attention. People laughed, played along, and yes—we even made enough money from our antics to cover drinks, shots, and still had $60 left at the end of the night. At one point, one of the Plan B’s fell onto the dance floor, and the DJ announced it over the speakers. Mildly embarrassing? Sure. But also hilarious.

I share this story not just because it makes people laugh (which it does), but because it’s a reminder that disabled people live full, rich, and sometimes ridiculous lives—just like anyone else. We go out. We make memories. We get embarrassed on dance floors. And we do it all with creativity, humor, and heart.

Some days are harder than others, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get to have fun, be spontaneous, or make questionable fashion choices in the name of a good time.

So here’s to more stories, more laughter, and more visibility. Because everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the messy, beautiful chaos of young adulthood.