Twice a year, students across the country adjust their clocks for daylight savings and their sleep schedules along with it. While the tradition has been around for over a century, many high school students are questioning whether it still makes sense.
Originally introduced during World War I to conserve energy, daylight saving time was meant to make better use of natural daylight. But for high school students, homework, extracurricular activities, and early school start times, along with the clock change, can feel more like a burden rather than a benefit.
“I was so tired the Monday after we lost an hour,” said Senior Malachi Ning. “It felt like I was running on zero sleep all day, and I couldn’t focus in class.”
Many students agree that the “spring forward” transition is the hardest. Losing an hour of sleep can disrupt routines and make mornings even more difficult.
“I already struggle to wake up for school,” said Senior Manny Sanchez. “Daylight savings just makes it worse. I wish we could just stick to one time all year.”
However, not all students see it as a burden. The longer evenings that come with daylight saving time are a highlight for some, especially those involved in after-school activities. “I like having more daylight after school,” said Senior Betsi Rodriguez. “It makes practice feel better, and I actually have time to hang out with friends before it gets dark.”
Others appreciate the mental health benefits of extra sunlight. “When it’s still light out in the evening, I feel more motivated to go outside or to be active,” said Senior Brenda Carmago. “It just puts me in a better mood.”
The debate over daylight saving time isn’t just happening among students in high school, but also nationwide, as people argue that daylight saving time messes with already established schedules within sleep and their day-to-day lives, while others believe the extra evening daylight is worth it.
For now, students will have to keep “springing forward” and “falling backward” each year, despite the benefits and drawbacks. “I don’t think it’s necessary anymore,” Ning added. “I’d rather just get my sleep back.”