Josie Nnaji

When daylight savings started, students at BSM enjoyed the extra sunlight and longer evenings.

Daylight savings time began on Sunday, March 10, pushing clocks forward an hour and bringing brighter evenings but less sleep. As Benilde-St. Margaret’s students are adjusting to the change, some enjoying the extra daylight and others longing for the much-needed hour of rest that got stolen.

The start of daylight savings for some students welcomes change and represents the end of the dark cold winter and the beginning of spring. With the sun setting later, they value the time they have to spend outside socializing with friends, and being able to simply enjoy watching the sun set later at night. “The extra daylight makes the days feel longer, and it’s also nice to finally have time to be outside after school without it getting dark so fast,” said senior Jazz Whitfield.

Minnesota’s cold winters often cause seasonal depression in students. But as the snow melts, and the sun shines, the end of the dark cold days is appreciated by some students at BSM, but not all. Some feel disoriented after getting an hour less of sleep, throwing off many kids’ sleep schedules, and making it harder to wake up in the morning and function at school. Some have to rely on caffeinated drinks to get through the rough Monday after daylight savings, which makes daylight savings more of a hassle than a benefit. “Losing an hour of sleep doesn’t really sound like it would be a big deal, but for me, it takes me a while to adjust my sleep schedule and general routine,” senior Kendall McGee said.

Sports, clubs, and other after-school extracurriculars are impacted significantly by this transition. For outside sports, extended daylight hours can be helpful because it allows teams to practice in natural light longer, making evening practices more enjoyable and lively. This helps athletes to feel more awake and focused during training and practices. “When it’s six o’clock and still bright outside during baseball practice, I feel more energized and motivated to put in work. During the winter, when we finish indoor practice at six, it’s already dark outside and I feel tired and less productive and motivated to do homework when I get home,” senior Abu Kalokoh said.

During the cold dark winter days, it can be hard to maintain focus and motivation in school. Although seasonal depression doesn’t hit everyone, most people dislike winter because they struggle with low energy and lack of a positive mindset during the season. Conversely, the warm spring days are filled with anticipation for summer, and bring a freshness to the air as flowers bloom and snow melts. “The winter months just feel so draining, but once it starts getting lighter outside, my mood and motivation instantly improve,” Whitfield said.