Nap time is brilliant. Let me tell you, there is nothing better than curling up in bed and just going to sleep. It can be for an hour, 20 minutes or however long you want; naps are amazing, and high schoolers definitely need them incorporated into their lives.
We all remember those days back in preschool or elementary school, early on in our school careers, when teachers would shut off the lights and we would get to rest our heads, close our eyes and then doze. Ah, bliss. Now, it’s understandable that these little kids get the luxury of naps. They’re young, they’re spirited, they do tons of activities, and play on the playground. Naps help them recuperate and get them in better spirits. It’s great that they are being looked after…but what about us?
Whether you are taking AP, honors or on-level classes, students put in time and effort to achieve good grades, and it takes a toll on them. By sophomore year, kids have gotten jobs and are working hours that leave kids staying up super late to complete their schoolwork. It’s a little unfair how a 5-year-old who has just had the best lunch ever and has gotten to color for the first half of the day now gets a nap, whereas kids in high school juggling extracurricular activities, social commitments, classes and jobs are left with little time to rest.
The average teen should receive 8-10 hours of sleep every night according to UCLA Health, and when faced with the amount of work students put in followed by the time spent for themselves, whether that be on their phones or binging a show, most kids are not reaching those hours.
Students from all grades at North Forsyth expressed their desire to have a designated time for napping; Esther Rehman, a freshman, said naps would be “very beneficial” due to how overwhelming school can be “especially for those who are neurodivergent.”
Gabby Miranda, a junior, agreed with the thought of having naps. “We have more responsibilities than kindergartners,” she explained. “And yes, this is their first year of school, but in schools, changing your sleep schedule early on and having naps at a high school level would be better.”
The first thing anyone should prioritize is both the physical and mental health of our students. Part of mental health is maintaining proper rest, and these students are not getting what they need. Everyone loves a good nap, and I think we deserve naps after all the effort we put into our work to succeed as we do.
