I’m tired. This has been true since Winter Break. I’ve developed some attractive bags under my eyes. These days, my friends act as my alarm clock, frantically shaking me awake or jumping on my bed. The problem with that alarm is I can’t hit the snooze button. You’d think numerous persistent phone calls would suffice. Current record is 15 unanswered calls while I happily snoozed.

I know I’m not the only one who goes through this. You might say the solution is easy: sleep more. But whoever suggests that is clearly not in college. The better solution: a university-wide designated naptime. You know, like the one we used to have in kindergarten?

Most 5-year-olds could be amused by anything, but nothing made me happier than naptime. After a long strenuous day of playing tag, I could curl up on the floor, take a refreshing nap and proceed to a riveting show-and-tell presentation. 

I never knew the feeling of exhaustion. I never sat there desperately trying to color within the lines because my eyes couldn’t stay open. I never had to depend on a juicebox filled with Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. I never read picture books or glanced over to see a classmate slumped over wearing black Ray-Bans — for the record, we know you’re asleep. Most importantly, small talk didn’t consist of saying how tired we were.

In college, you have your social life, academics, extracurriculars and sleep. It’s only humanly possible to choose three, and we know what most people chose. So naptime in college is more necessary. Seriously. We’re not Energizer bunnies.                        

Picture it. Teachers would be more awake, and they could teach better. Students would be awake to hear them (many might even attend the class) and broaden their scope of small talk.

Or maybe I like taking naps. Sue me.

— Compiled by Colleen Bidwill, asst. feature editor, cabidwel@syr.edu

Published on February 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm