OH by Daniel

OH by Daniel - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

The last several years have been rather difficult at university. As a major in physics, a physical science, the coursework is especially difficult, being especially heavy in dense mathematics and non-intuitive concepts. This has only been made more of a challenge by financial challenges due to the high cost of tuition, and the pressure of balancing schoolwork with musical ensembles, trail running, and laboratory research As such, I often would drastically alter my sleep schedule to accommodate the demand of completing as much work as possible during the day. This obviously led to an inconsistent sleeping schedule, consistent drowsiness, irritability, and lack of attention. While my work was always completed, it was never done as perfect as it could have were I well rested, and my grades reflected this reality. As such, a definite resolution for becoming a better student this year lies in a superior management of my sleeping habits.
The necessity of sleep, which is valued by students yet viewed consistently as something that can easily be sacrificed, is directly related to human health. In the extreme case, severe sleep deprivation can lead to death, most likely due to severely negative effects on both voluntary and autonomic cognitive processes, as in the case of Fatal Familial Insomnia. In general, sleep deprivation affects the expression of genes associated with the immune system, leading one to be more susceptible to minor pathogens such as rhinoviruses over sustained periods of time. It also interrupts the cyclic removal of metabolic waste from energy-intensive cognitive processes, which are disposed of via the cerebrospinal fluid during REM sleep. Thus, interrupting sleep can lead to a whole host of physiological issues ranging from headaches, hallucinations, general soreness, lack of attention, including all of the aforementioned symptoms. In an academic environment, such symptoms are a serious threat to the efficacy of one’s education, and warrant a prioritization of sleep not only for general health but academic success.
I can plan to strategically implement a healthier sleep schedule by beginning with structuring my day around sleep, rather than the reverse. This will allow for consistency, preventing me from having trouble with falling asleep or needing to pull as may all-nighters as in the past. In addition, this will force me to be more efficient with my days, perhaps dropping a trail run here or there, reducing the amount of breaks between homework sets, making more efficient use of time between class, etc. There will be little issues with this increased efficiency due to the increase in concentration and alertness afforded by healthier sleeping. In synthesis, my resolution to prioritize my sleep will aid in improving my overall health, supporting my success in academics, and ultimately, establishing healthy habits that will last a lifetime to promote overall good living.