Katie's Blog

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In the aging of the streaming world, entertainment has become an endless playground for adults and children, where the genres are unlimited. The days of flipping through channels, waiting for the right time to see your show are over. Now with just a few clicks of the remote, a new world  of entertainment is in reach, from flinching horror movies to the perfect late night rom-com that you can’t see in theaters. Streaming platforms offer a variety of unique features such as shows produced by that platform or algorithm-driven playlists that may know what you want even more than yourself. In the evolving digital world, streaming has helped redefine the way we experience stories, making entertainment more personalized and limitless.

Whether it’s Lectures or Work: A Nap is the Solution

In the whirlwind of college, where academic pressure is at an all time high, social activities, sports practice, and part time jobs colliding, napping has become routine for students. Between the late nights doing homework and early morning classes, many students will turn to a nap for a quick energy recharge between lectures and practice. 

From an early age, students were encouraged to nap. In kindergarten there is designated nap/rest time blocked out during the day. Naps help children’s brains convert short-term memories into long-term memories, which improves their ability to learn and transfer information. When talking to junior Grace Heusinkvelt, and asking their thoughts about kindergarten nap time she said, “I miss those days. I think everyone needs naps, especially adults and we should formally incorporate those into our days now.” Unfortunately, once students get to first grade, naps become a thing of the past and suddenly everyone is assumed to have enough energy to go seven plus hours per day (or more) nonstop. 

As students continue to get older their schedules only get busier with academics, activities, sports, clubs, jobs and more – while their available time for sleep dwindles. In addition, while this is happening, in most cases students are required to get up extremely early for school in middle school and high school – and sometimes college – during a time when students are not wired to wake up early. There are actually school districts that have changed the start time for their middle schools and high schools due to the fact that it is more beneficial to those students. In a meta-analysis of existing evidence found later start times were correlated with better attendance, less tardiness, less falling asleep in class, better grades, and fewer car crashes.

In college, there is an increasing struggle for proper sleep, especially those with 8 a.m. classes. Staying up late to study, finish assignments, and having a social life leaves students with a minimal amount of sleep before the alarm goes off to begin the next day. The tiredness carries on through the afternoon with going into a “food coma” after lunch. Post lunch exhaustion hits, making it difficult to concentrate on lectures or other school work. For most, the solution to this is a power nap, even if it is just 20 to 30 minutes, to revive their energy and to complete their tasks. Short naps are often one of the best and most effective ways to build the strength for afternoon classes, sports practice, and their part time jobs. 

To get firsthand perspective information, I had an interview with Amber Hofemeister, a junior in bio-chem major. “I have always enjoyed naps, but they have come more essential to me since college,” Amber stated. “With  8 a.m. classes, I typically am up by 7, and with homework and practice, I usually am not in bed until after midnight. By lunchtime I am completely exhausted and most days have time for a quick nap before my afternoon lab. With naps, I am able to feel revived and more focused.”

This concept of recharging isn’t limited to just students. The work force world has woken up and successful companies such as Google, Facebook, and Uber are creating workplaces that embrace the idea of naps. These large corporate companies have managed to make nap pods and quiet room areas, acknowledging that rest is needed to have the most efficient work done. Taking a short nap is able to improve focus and spark more creativity. Naps are now being seen as a key component to success. 

Perhaps it may be time for more places to follow this new idea. If adults in the workforce are allowed for a midday recharge, why shouldn’t students in an equally demanding environment?  Rest may need to be reformed, as it is an essential part of our health and is what gives us productivity. Whether it’s a quick nap on the couch or in a nap pod, it’s what keeps us going everyday. 

College Culture (Draft)

In the whirlwind of college, where academic pressure is at an all time high, social activities, sports practice, and part time jobs colliding, napping has become routine for students. Between the late nights doing homework and early morning classes, many students will turn to a nap for a quick energy recharge between lectures and practice. 

From an early age, students were encouraged to nap. In kindergarten there is designated nap/rest time blocked out during the day. Naps help children’s brains convert short-term memories into long-term memories, which improves their ability to learn and transfer information. When talking to XX and asking their thoughts about kindergarten nap time she said, “I miss those days. I think everyone needs naps, especially adults and we should formally incorporate those into our days now.” Unfortunately, once students get to first grade, naps become a thing of the past and suddenly everyone is assumed to have enough energy to go seven plus hours per day (or more) nonstop. 

As students continue to get older their schedules only get busier with academics, activities, sports, clubs, jobs and more – while their available time for sleep dwindles. In addition, while this is happening, in most cases students are required to get up extremely early for school in middle school and high school – and sometimes college – during a time when students are not wired to wake up early. There are actually school districts that have changed the start time for their middle schools and high schools due to the fact that it is more beneficial to those students. A meta-analysis of existing evidence found later start times were correlated with better attendance, less tardiness, less falling asleep in class, better grades, and fewer car crashes (Wheaton, A. G., et al).

In college, there is an increasing struggle for proper sleep, especially those with 8 a.m. classes. Staying up late to study, finish assignments, and having a social life leaves students with a minimal amount of sleep before the alarm goes off to begin the next day. The tiredness carries on through the afternoon with going into a “food coma” after lunch. Post lunch exhaustion hits, making it difficult to concentrate on lectures or other school work. For most, the solution to this is a power nap, even if it is just 20 to 30 minutes, to revive their energy and to complete their tasks. Short naps are often one of the best and most effective ways to build the strength for afternoon classes, sports practice, and their part time jobs. 

To get firsthand perspective information, I had an interview with Amber Hofmeister, a junior in bio-chem major. “I have always enjoyed naps, but they have come more essential to me since college,” Amber stated. “With  8 a.m. classes, I typically am up by 7, and with homework and practice, I usually am not in bed until after midnight. By lunchtime I am completely exhausted and most days have time for a quick nap before my afternoon lab. With naps, I am able to feel revived and more focused.”

My America.

America, at this moment, feels like a seesaw teetering back and forth between visions and values. As ballots were getting cast and counted last night, it felt like the country had its heart on the line, pumping louder and faster. This election I had the privilege to cast a ballot and to use my voice. Since I can remember I have always been intrigued by politics and how things in our country are done and the policies put in place. Every election I remind myself that it is we the people that have the right to choose and make a difference. 

To me, my America is long gone. I don’t know if I can confidently answer what my America is today, because I myself am trying to figure that out. I believe in democracy. I believe in the right to choose. I believe in equality and firmly stand on anti racism. I believe no one is above the law. I believe in kindness. These are all things I want for my America, but these are all things I wasn’t fortunate enough to have at only the age of 20. When I would say “I’m an American,”  I used to feel proud and call myself fortunate to be one. When I say “I’m an American,” now, I feel ashamed and angry. I have been left in fear for myself and my potential future children, left with the daunting question of, do I even want to raise kids in this kind of country?

This isn’t the way I had hoped for the 2024 election to go, but I did do the most important thing I could do which was taking part in the Democratic process of voting. I will continue to push for not only myself to vote and make a change, but everyone else too. Voting has the ability to change anything you want it to, and I asserted my right to be heard, to push for a country that works for everyone, without feeling like they are trying to be silenced. Voting is something that I have been passionate about since before I was even eligible to vote. It is so extremely important to me to exercise the right to do so, and I think part of the reason I feel so strongly about it is because I am a woman and I will refuse to give up and keep going backwards. 

If we take a trip down memory lane, women weren’t granted the right to vote until 1920. In 1973 the U.S. The Supreme Court ruled to protect the right to have an abortion in the Constitution. In 1974 women were granted the right to take out a loan, credit card, and personal bank account in their name. Nearly 50 years later, in 2022 women lost their constitutional right to have a medically safe abortion. As a young woman I feel I lost more than just the election. 

Growing up being told stories of America and how wonderful it was to be here feels like a fever dream now. I was taught that we were run under a Democracy, something we should be considered fortunate for. That was until I got my bodily autonomy stripped from me. That was until they allowed my grandmother more rights than me. That was until they overturned Roe v. Wade, even though the majority of America did not want that. That was until 2024 when now, the whole government is likely to be taken over by red seats as the majority. 

So what is my America right now? My America is misogynistic. It does not respect bodily autonomy for women. It does not respect women’s health. It does not see women as equals. And it does not feel that women have the right to decide for themselves what to do with their bodies as the woman feels fit. This election showed me the true horrors of what my America is, no respect for women leaving me feeling very disillusioned and angry. The America I knew and loved would have never turned away from me and belittle me as much as it does now. My America has left me hopeless.