Eva S.

My Experience:

My name is Eva Sela and I am a 16-year-old junior at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge NJ who knows firsthand how a lack of sleep can ruin your outlook on school and life in general. Before I went to Ridge High, I attended a school in Kearny, NJ that started almost a full hour later than Ridge does and the difference that it made was mind-blowing. 

I can confidently say that not one person (at least that I talked to) ever complained about not getting enough sleep, myself included. But since I moved to Ridge, there have been countless days when I've gotten less than 5 hours of sleep or on a few particularly horrendous nights, no sleep at all. Other students in my school get even less sleep than I do, all in an effort to keep up with the competitiveness at Ridge. Along with the rigorous classes I take, I also have to balance having a job 4 days a week, volunteering, and many other demanding aspects of my home life. 

Lack of sleep makes it nearly impossible for me to concentrate and retain information, overall making me extremely unmotivated and prone to procrastination. I've also noticed that it makes me more anxious, distant, and irritable. 

This project made me realize how vital sleep is for teenagers, like myself. Ensuring that every teenager has ample amounts of sleep has become less of a dream and more of a goal that can be accomplished. I admittedly complained a lot about school start times being so early but I never actually sought to do anything about it. This project showed me that if there's a problem, I can offer a solution because I do have a voice in my community, despite my age and lack of experience. Anyone can make a difference as long as they've got the guts and determination. Hopefully, after seeing how substantial this problem is and the possible solutions that our group presents, our policymakers will be encouraged to take action.