“My grade point average has dropped,” said Arjuna Sivakumar, a sophomore. “I only get about eight hours of sleep a night. With all of my homework, it’s difficult to get enough sleep.” 
    Based on a sleep study of teenagers conducted by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, nearly 20 percent of high school students fall asleep in one class each year.
 Many students at Timberline have struggled with this problem. After the 2008-2009 school year, high schools in the North Thurston Public School District began starting at 7:30 a.m., 25 minutes earlier than what it had been previously at 7:55 a.m., and more than two hours earlier for incoming freshmen.
    In part to an earlier starting time, students are struggling to get the necessary amount of sleep that teens need in order to operate efficiently during the day. Moreover, some students are beginning to grow so excessively sleep deprived that the only way to function amid their day is through the use of additives and supplements such as caffeine.
     “I have to bring a thermos of coffee to school every day now,” said junior Yani Gallagher. “Coffee is the only way that I am able to stay awake throughout the day. However, it causes me to get distracted quite often.”
    According to Web MD, consuming caffeine constantly all day can lead to anxiety problems, insomnia, and devastating sleep habits.
    “Students seem to be showing up later to school. Additionally, it seems as if students just don’t feel like coming to school because they are so tired,” said English teacher Kim Mason. “I see students consuming caffeine early in the day, and by about 5th period, they crash.”
    Sleeping disorders can also develop as teens grow older because they consume caffeine on a regular basis. Senior Derek Gripp, who has suffered from insomnia during various periods of time during the past couple years, has had to function all through high school, despite being tired consistently.
    “I feel like sleeping at random times during the day,” said Gripp. “Although I have insomnia, it doesn’t really cause very many problems for me.”

Why don’t teens sleep enough?
 According to the Kids Health Organization, teens may be at a loss when they try to get more sleep because as teenagers, the brain hormone melatonin is being produced later at night than it is when you are a child or adult. Teenagers struggle to get enough sleep for a myriad of reasons, ranging from a stressful amount of work, to sports that consume time during the weekends and evenings.
    “I think teenagers don’t get enough sleep because the day is so short,” said Gripp. “Plus, there isn’t a whole lot of free time during the day to relax.”
      Teens need about eight and a half to nine hours of sleep each night in order to be sufficiently alert while in the midst of the school day. Unfortunately, many believe that this is nearly impossible for students who are involved in after school or extra curricular activities, such as sports or clubs, must also continuously combat a stressful amount of homework.  
    Many freshmen at Timberline have had to make a difficult switch as they must start school nearly two hours earlier this year than they did last year. Freshman Erik Van Ausdal has had to adjust to starting school, often times, even before the sun rises.
    “In comparison to middle school, it is much more difficult to wake up alert this year,” said Van Ausdal. “It’s tougher to get ready on time for high school. It has become much more difficult to stay on top of my work and balancing sleep with homework.”
    Due to the growing amount of work that students must handle as school wears on, teenagers must continue to find ways to succeed in school academically, while also coming to school alert, and ready to work. However, many students opt to stay up late at night to finish homework, leading to dangerous side effects in the thick of the day.
    While a lack of sleep could potentially damaging to teenage health, Gripp believes that, despite his  insomnia, he may be as alert as any other average high school student.    “Other people probably sleep a little better at night than I do,” said Gripp. “But other people who sleep just fine tend to get hyper during the day and late at night, which is probably why they come to school so exhausted.”