By Taarini Gurjar
I think it's safe to say that all teenagers love their sleep. Sleeping in with no worries of the work that lies ahead of you. Just the mere thought of not having to hear the blaring alarm at 7:00 in the morning makes some teenagers as happy as a child being rewarded with candy. Having said that, you can imagine a teenager's vexation when they’re physically shook or sprayed with water. May I add, at excruciatingly early hours. I know, it sounds brutal. But it also sounds rather familiar. The topic of school starting later for teenagers has been a widely discussed topic. And I, for one, would love it if that would become reality.
When thinking about later start hours, many minds immediately turn to the negative possibilities. Teenagers will: spend sleep hours on Instagram, stay up late talking to friends or even pushing for a later curfew. What people don’t realize, being so consumed by the negatives, is the benefits it has. One of the most important ones being their health. In fact, studies by The Open University (UK) showed that absence due to illness fell by more than 50% when schools began at 10 A.M.. They also found that teenagers aged 13-16 had better overall health when their school hours were delayed.
Not only does waking up late affect health, but also behaviour. According to sleep researcher Wendy Troxel, “around the time of puberty, teenagers experience a delay in their biological clock”. She explains this shift as a result of the hormone melatonin being released at 11 P.M. for teenagers, close to two hours after adults or children. Therefore, the equivalent of a teenager waking up at 6 A.M. for an adult, is at 4 A.M.. How would you feel if you were woken up at 4 A.M. every day? Perhaps irascible, dazed and your mind would not be able to function to its best. That is exactly how a teenager feels due to chronic sleep deprivation. Leading to a cranky and sullen temperament.
As you can see, a teenager's wish for their alarm to ring an hour later is not out of laziness. In reality, it's a consequence of their biological makeup. Instead of jumping to conclusions or worrying about how they will cope in the future, parents and schools should understand what works best for them at this moment. Next time you come across a “typical” teenager, try to look beyond the boundaries put on them by that label.
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