School can be very stressful. To wake up early, focus in every class for 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and be expected to study and do homework for another few hours at home, is a lot. For many Rich Central students there is not enough time in the day.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens should get about 8 1/2 to 9 hours of sleep a night, yet many students get far less than the recommended amount.

RC senior Quiara Bounds reflected, “I only get an average of 5 hours of sleep a night.”

School work alone does not consume the time of most RC students. Many have multiple responsibilities both inside and outside of school.

RC junior Yolanda Jackson says that she will have to juggle softball, school, and a job. “I think teenagers in high school have a lot on their plate,” stated Jackson.

Many RC students claim that homework contributes to their lack of sleep.

“Sometimes I stay up after 1:00 AM just to finish a reading assignment or an essay,” according to one RC junior.

When asked if his students get enough sleep, history teacher Mr. Pfeifer simply responded no. “I’ve heard students say they get to bed at 2:00 or 3:00,” continues Mr. Pfieffer.

Distractions, jobs, extracurriculars, and homework are some of the components that Mr. Pfieffer believes adds to the sleep deprivation of his students. However, he also acknowledges social responsibilities such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as playing a large role.

The technology today such as cell phones, laptops, and the internet surely have an affect.

“I stay up until like 3:00 in the morning because I am always on Twitter, Instagram, talking on the phone, or texting,” says an RC senior.

The teen generation today is greatly influenced by technology, is more connected to the rest of the world, and arguably has more responsibilites and more distractions than their parents had when they were younger. Yet, it imposes a dangerous threats to the teen health. Fatigue, drowsiness, and lack of concentration are all connected to the loss of sleep students may get.

Whether it is deficient time management skills by teens or the overwhelming amount of duties teens must attend to  as the key factor of teen sleep deprivation is still questionable. Overall, RC students must find a way to get more sleep at night so they can be more effective throughout the day, and to have better health in the long run.