Freshman Oscar Sun Forces Himself to go to Bed at a Reasonable Time

When his high school career started, freshman Oscar Sun didn’t realize how important sleep was until his mother Amy Ye had him go to sleep at 9 p.m. every night. Ye believes with a full night’s rest, Sun will be more focused in both life and academics. Getting a healthy night’s sleep allows him to get better grades and stay alert in the first couple hours of the school day.

“When I go to sleep early, it helps me focus and helps me process the stuff in front of me,” Sun said. “I can think straight. I get along better with my family and friends.”

3 p.m.

As soon as he gets home from school, freshman Oscar Sun grabs an apple for an after-school snack.  He spends the next few hours relaxing and taking a break from the school day. Most of his after-school activities consist of watching YouTube, playing video games or taking a run.

“If [teenagers] go to sleep earlier, they will have a better sleep cycle and be more energized,” Ye said. “[I notice that] Oscar is in a better mood for the day.”

6 p.m.

Depending on his workload, Sun will spend an hour on his homework. Sun sits at his desk with his phone away, working on the usual daily math homework or the occasional Spanish homework. In this time frame, he gets all of the work done for the next school day, and when he’s finished, he eats dinner and allows himself more time to relax.

“I try to manage my time and get homework done during the day, so I’m not worried about getting it done the class before,” Sun said. “It can get stressful because I don’t know if I’ll get it done in time.”

9 p.m.

At this time, all of his electronics are turned off and he’s in bed. He has kept up with this schedule ever since his high school career started. This schedule benefits his mood and his grades.

“I think it’s good that he gets more sleep because he does get better grades,” friend Khalin Shah said. “I feel like it changes his perspective and attitude, he’s not in a funky mood for the day.”