The clock strikes midnight and the stack of papers is still a mile high. You wish the homework could just do itself, but hey, that’s what you get for coming to Dartmouth. A lot of priorities get put on the back burner, including one of the most important aspects of life: sleep.

According to a survey by the American College Health Association in 2005, only about 13% of college students get a good night’s sleep every night. Such poor sleeping habits could have a negative impact on memory, ability to retain information, and grades.

Adjusting to the college sleeping cycle has been a rude awakening for the ‘13s. Freshman floors love to hang out and lounge at night. Sometimes this means sacrificing sleep (and ultimately good grades) for socializing or vice versa.

So is there a delicate balance? Can you have a social life and get enough sleep?
William Hernandez, a ‘13 who has been affected by sleep deprivation and acknowledges its negative consequences, said, “Sleep is like the lion, and when you wake the lion up, everything gets affected.” Obviously, Hernandez is not getting enough sleep.

For others who seem to efficiently manage their time, they credit their organization to adequate sleep. David Shapiro said, “I prioritize my sleep and don’t let it fall on the wayside. If you don’t sleep, what’s the point of studying? You learn stuff in your sleep.”

To set a good example, we are going to stop writing this article and go to bed, because sleep is the best gift you can give your body.