As underclassman, my peers and I have often heard horror stories about upcoming junior and senior years. With multiple AP and honors classes, standardized testing, college applications and the ever time consuming extra-curricular activities, sleep is pushed to the bottom of the list of priorities for many juniors and seniors.

When we were young, our parents planned each day to ensure that we obtained the required amount of sleep. Now, as we mature and become in charge of our own sleep, the transition is made to do what needs to be done, and then sleep with whatever time is left over.

It seems that next few years, three hours of sleep will become the norm. Five hours of sleep will only be possible on “good” nights—the days when teachers decide to go easy on the homework load. And soon, it won’t be irregular to pull an all-nighter a few times a week to cram for a history test or to finish an English project.

But how important is sleep, really? Is it merely an indulgence, a time for relaxation amidst a busy lifestyle, or more of a necessity, something we cannot go without?

Almost any article you read online preaches the value of sleep, explaining that getting the suggested amount of sleep for one’s age group is crucial in order to function efficiently throughout the day. (For teens, they recommend about eight and a half to nine hours.)

I, on the other hand, don’t think it can be this simple. I think part of how essential sleep is depends on the person. Some of my peers are able to come to school on so little sleep that they can count the number of hours on one hand, yet still be just like their usual selves. Everything about them seems exactly the same—including their concentration and personality.

I’m not so lucky. A lack of sleep tends to bring out my worst qualities in all regards. I can never concentrate on anything, whether it is school, friends or sports, and my emotions are always extreme.

Unfortunately, I discovered this quite recently, after a particularly late night studying for a chemistry test. As I sat in class holding a cold water bottle to my face in an attempt to stay awake, I realized how much sleep (or a lack thereof) affects me and how vital it can be.
For the first time, I considered that, for me personally, sleep itself could be more important than that extra hour of studying or finishing the last few problems on an optional review sheet because the concentration and focus it preserves can be irreplaceable.

The worst is yet to come. As junior and senior year loom ahead, I can practically see those precious hours of sleep slipping away into the distance, to be replaced by seemingly endless amount of homework. As dramatic as it sounds, the hours of sleep I will lose in the future will be gone forever.

The big question becomes what to do about this problem. I don’t think there’s any way to avoid the inevitable lack of sleep; it’s just something we all have to muddle through. But until that time comes—I’m going to enjoy all the sleep I can.