Why the Truth About Sleep Deprivation Should Be Shared by Angela
Angelaof Colorado Springs's entry into Varsity Tutor's March 2017 scholarship contest
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Why the Truth About Sleep Deprivation Should Be Shared by Angela - March 2017 Scholarship Essay
As a senior, I am starting to look back on my years of middle and high school, and am saddened that one of the most constant factors in my life was being very, very, tired. This is pretty normal for people my age these days, and is only made more extreme when factors like honors classes, extracurriculars, and jobs are brought in. Over this last year, I had the opportunity through a class project to research what exactly it meant to be a teenager who was sleep deprived, and some of the stuff I learned shocked and scared me into wanting to change my habits. While I have fortunately increased my sleep quite a bit over the last year or so, I still hear my peers discussing how they were up doing their homework until four a.m or the middle schoolers I tutor laughing about how they were awake until five a.m playing video games. It was this that first inspired me to actually give a speech to my public speaking class about the dangers of being sleep deprived as a developing adolescent.
I chose the topic of sleep deprivation, and would certainly do so again, because it is a danger on par with alcohol or drug abuse that is largely laughed off as a right of passage for high school students by parents, teachers, and students. I wanted my peers to be aware of some of the facts I am now aware of, in the hopes that they would prioritize sleep more and possibly improve their health. This was very personal to me, because just four years ago I was one of those students surviving on just two hours of sleep per night, and I can now see how poorly it affected me. Similarly to other accounts given by severely sleep deprived students, I have very poor memories of friends or lessons taught in eighth grade. This is something that makes me sad, as I am sure some of them were very worth keeping. But beyond the sadness of losing those memories, the reason behind their loss could perhaps be even more terrifying-studies are starting to reveal that long term sleep deprivation can actually make your hippocampus (the part of your brain that creates long term memories) shrink. Furthermore, alcohol abuse can do the same thing, and this is just one example of how alcohol abuse and sleep deprivation can affect your brain in very similar ways. This, and more, is information I wish I had known sooner, and it is something I think is crucial to share with my peers, younger students, and their educators.
Beyond just the issues caused by sleep deprivation, there is also the fact that it is actually pretty hard to avoid. Because of teenage biology, students fall asleep later that adults or young children, and this can be pretty hard to change. Additionally, the lifestyle of society today contributes to later bedtimes, as many students report being kept awake by social media or homework. It is generally agreed by psychologists specializing in adolescents that there are two solutions that will work the best. First, moving school start times back until around 8:15. Numerous studies have proven that this small change can make a big difference. This difference is not only in the student's health, but also in test scores and performance. I would hope that the more educators and administrators of schools hear about this information, the closer the system will move to better health for teens, making it information that should be spread. The second possible solution can be done by teens at home if they really do want to improve their sleep. Taking phones and computers out of their bedroom after a certain time of night, perhaps 10 p.m, or half an hour after they’ve completed their homework. This will prevent them from being pulled away from much-needed sleep by others on social media. While I know both of these changes will face much resistance, I know that exposure is key, which is why I care so much about sharing with anyone who will listen.
I am a strong believer that knowing about our own bodies and health gives us immense power. This is why I avidly learn about all things body and brain, and why I share them with those I care about. Even if some information, like your phone is to blame for your exhaustion, may be unwelcome, I will always push to educate. This is why, if given the opportunity to speak to any school community, I would choose sleep deprivation as my topic.