By: Janelle Pantilon, Features Editor
With gloomy days, recent time changes, and rigorous classes, 70% of high school students are currently sleep deprived. After sharing their concerns for their lack of sleep and how it affects their academic performance and overall mindset in school, students began looking to admin for help. Starting mid-April of this semester, Mills will implement its new “NAP LAND” program.
This program will be available in the East Gym every day, excluding special schedules or minimum days. Students will be able to change their schedules to fit this time into their day without heavily interfering with their other classes or responsibilities. This pitch has seemed to gain a lot of appeal amongst the student body as students have stressed their need to catch up on sleep along with the ways they’ll benefit more from this designated time in comparison to sleeping during class.
While this will be a big adjustment for staff, the majority has chimed in their support towards bettering student’s well-being and see this as a great opportunity. Dean Christian shares his thoughts on the NAP LAND program by saying, “I think the weather has everyone needing some extra- now the time change means catching up on sleep.” Other teachers have commented how they hope the program will minimize the number of students sleeping during their class and improve productivity across the board.
Grace Flores (11) says, “I think this will be a great program, especially for the upperclassmen who have a lot more on their plates like those taking several AP classes. As a student-athlete, being able to take a quick nap in the middle of my day will allow me to get re-energized and more concentrated until the end of school, extending to my practice.”
Another junior, Emily Wong, had a similar opinion as Flores, explaining, “ it will definitely help with not falling asleep in classes and it’ll give me a power nap before practice.”
Plans are still in progress towards transforming the East Gym into a comfortable and relaxing place but you’ll certainly see a lot of decor that makes the room more cozy. As for where students will sleep, there will be pod-like nooks around the gym where students can pick their spots. Wong suggests that the gym has “fairy lights to create a soothing mood, plushies, no windows, and lots and lots of blankets.”
Personally, I am thrilled to have this privilege at school because it seems not only well thought out but also beneficial for all. It’s also good that administrators will be introducing the NAP LAND system at the end of the year, when students are experiencing high levels of stress and are in need of time to decompress the most.
