STUDENT EDITORIAL
Many high schools start very early in the morning, 8 a.m., even though teenagers are not biologically built to wake up that early. During puberty, teens sleep schedules shift, making it harder to fall asleep at night and wake up early. Because of this, most students do not get enough sleep, which affects their grades, mood, and health. Starting school later would help students be more alert, healthier, and more successful.
When students are tired, it is harder for them to focus, remember information, and stay motivated. A later start time, even just 9 a.m., would allow students to get more sleep, which would improve attention in class and lead to better academic performance. It would also improve mental health. Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to feel stressed, anxious, and irritable, while well-rested students are more emotionally balanced and able to handle school pressure. More sleep also supports physical health and even helps keep teen drivers safer by improving reaction time.
However, some people argue that starting school later would cause problems. It could interfere with parents work schedules, after-school sports, and part-time jobs. Schools would also have to change bus routes and daily schedules, which could be inconvenient and costly only for adults. Even though these challenges exist; they are small compared to the benefits for the students.
See LATER page x As a high school student myself, I feel the effects of early start times every day. I go to bed as early as I can, but I still wake up exhausted because my body just is not ready to be up at 6 a.m. It is a fact that teenagers bodies release melatonin at least two hours later than younger children and adults, making a six am wake-up call for teens equivalent to a four am wake up call. It makes driving in the morning so much harder. By the time I get to my first class, I am barely awake, which makes it hard to focus or participate. If school started later, I know I would be more alert, less stressed, and able to actually learn instead of just trying to stay awake. There is so much talk about our mental health; how about those who make school decisions start with the simplest solution — a later start time for high school students.
