Sleep: A High School Epidemic

Sleep is a vital part of life, as it happens every night. As students, getting enough sleep is important for an energetic day and for growing up. The recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is about 8-10 hours each day, but how much sleep are Skyline students actually getting? Out of the 20 students asked, the average amount of sleep every day, especially during a school night, is about an average of 5-6 hours.

With only about one student that was interviewed getting the minimum of eight hours of sleep, and a couple students only getting four hours of sleep per day; the healthy amount of sleep among students is very low.

When asked about why such a low amount sleep, Sydney Rebaza says, “I stay up really late watching youtube videos or drawing. After finishing my homework, I just need to take time and relax which I do late into the night. I do know that that teenagers should be getting about 8 hours of sleep, but the amount of work and being able to relax conflicts with the time I sleep.”

In Skyline High, the amount of homework increases due to the hard courses taken for college credit or being in programs such as the IB program. Many students stay up late at night studying for a test or even trying to finish a homework assignment.

Melissa Umble states, “I feel like the amount of homework given is a lot, but is a reasonable amount since you have two days to finish. The hardest part for me is finding the time to balance all the work and being able to do outside of school activities. Being able to get 8-10 hours of sleep is only possible on the weekends not on the weekdays.”

Studies have shown that getting the recommended amount of sleep allows students to focus more during class and when taking a test. Having a lack of sleep decreases the immune system, which is not a very positive thing in a bacteria and virus prone place like schools.

One way Skyline high is trying to help with the problem is teaching the newest students at the school how to manage time and how sleep is vital to success. Freshman Academy is used to teach 9th graders about the problems that you face in high schools and how to solve them, sleep included.

One freshman, Audrey Soderstrom, states, “I have learned a lot from this class, and now I try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. I try to manage my time more effectively and get to bed earlier than before. It is hard when there are things that come up, but I feel like I am getting much more effective sleep than before.”