Wake up an Hour Earlier to Live an Hour More by Madeline

Wake up an Hour Earlier to Live an Hour More by Madeline - January 2019 Scholarship Essay

I am a night owl. Or at least I thought I was. I had always been a person who stayed up late to finish projects and complete assignments. Even without a looming deadline I would stay up late to read books. I believed there was so much time at night I could use to my advantage. Since I stayed up late I would walk in to school everyday feeling tired and worn out. I thought it was just part of a teenager going through high school. It got to the point where it was hard to function and stay on task, so I decided to do something about it. I decided to go to bed earlier.

I was shocked to find how much easier it was to go through school. I was able to stay focused through the lessons and I was able to complete my best work. Yet I still struggled with one thing. I felt I was wasting my time sleeping so much.

That thought started my journey to waking up with the sun. The first weeks I struggled to get up and start my day so early. However, I realized as I got into a routine I was feeling much more alert without spending all day sleeping.

Not only that, Waking up with the sun is a motivator. In the words of Lemony Snicket, “Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have”. When I am productive and get something done early in the day I feel accomplished. That pushes me to be able to get more done and spend my day in a productive way. Waking up with sun allows a person to feel they are not wasting a single minute of the day, rather they are getting an extra hour to live. When I wake up with the sun high in the sky I feel as though the day started without me.

I am an early bird. I know that now. I believe to wake up an hour earlier is to live an hour more. When I rise with the sun I know I am getting projects done. Therefore, I am starting my day right.