Dear Noisy Neighbors,

I'm usually not one to rant publicly, but trying to go to bed a few nights ago inspired me to express my feelings.

Let me start off by stating that I'm a girl who really likes her sleep. Sleep is a beautiful thing, and when I don't get my eight hours a night I'm a much different person. I take naps in the middle of the day a lot, and usually there are noises inside and outside of my apartment that wake me up. That's perfectly fine and understandable because it's probably 3:00 P.M. and any average person is getting back from class, hanging out with friends or tossing a football around outside.

But at 2:45 A.M. on a Monday night before classes on Tuesday, it's not quite as understandable. Not only were you shouting right outside of my window, but an apartment close by to mine decided to also have band rehearsal.

I get it though. I really do. It's college, and we're going to stay up late. We're also paying to live where we do fair and square. And I've had my own share of late nights on weekends and of course the occasional "T-Shirt Tuesday," "Thirsty Thursday" and the entire span of syllabus week. But a mid-semester Monday, really? I have midterms and quizzes almost every week now, and I'm not going to ace them with under four hours of quality shut-eye. And I know that at a school of over 35,000 undergraduate students, I'm not the only one struggling to find the peace and quiet necessary for a good night rest.

The point is, this has opened up my eyes a little, quite literally. Whether you reside in a dorm, a house, an apartment complex, or really anything in between, you have neighbors that can hear you. I guarantee those walls and windows are not sound proof (not apart of the college student budget unfortunately). And I'm not saying that you should be on whisper-mode right when the sun sets. I like to have fun using an outdoor voice just like everyone else, but at respectable days and hours.

So next time you're itching to blast some music or thud around on your deck outside, please make sure it's not at 3:00 A.M. on a Tuesday during a commonly known Hell Week. I'm vowing to be a little more conscious about my volume, and if everyone took the time to do the same, our campus would be a happier, more well-rested place. "Love thy neighbor," people. Your daily contribution of an indoor voice can help one sleep-deprived college student at a time.

Sincerely,

The (Really Tired) Girl Next Door