Many students’ academic lives require long hours of studying and late nights. While some feel the urge to rest their head on their desks during class, junior Alex Wang refuses to do so. When beginning to apply to summer programs over Holiday Break, Wang decided his New Year’s Resolution would be to stay awake in class in order to establish better relationships with his teachers. In addition, he realized that the academic rigor of junior year would require a change to his sleep habits.“[Applications] require teacher recommendation letters,” Wang said. “It just happened to be around New Years so I [thought] I might as well make a resolution.”In previous years, Wang has resolved to go running more and join a club. However, he sees them as easier commitments than this year’s. Though he considers his current resolution much more difficult,, he plans to keep it and perhaps make it a permanent change.“I’m the kind of guy who sleeps a lot in class,” Wang said, “and it took me a while to recognize that it’s something I really need to change because it’s junior year. Hopefully this will carry on to college.”Previously when Wang fell asleep in class, he would find it difficult to do the homework. When he asked for help, he said teachers tell him he would have known the answer if he had stayed awake in class. Now that he makes an effort to pay attention, Wang notices his teachers appreciate it and are more willing to answer his questions.

In order to keep his resolution, Wang has made adjustments to his lifestyle. He tries to go to sleep earlier, and drinks tea in the morning if he feels sleepy. In addition to making these changes, Wang’s friends help to keep him awake in class. When they see him nodding off, they poke him to wake him up.

Even though it’s been three weeks since Wang made his resolution, he already sees improvement.

“It’s been three weeks and I haven’t fallen asleep yet, so I think I’m doing well,” said Wang, “[I’m] making good changes.”