In a world made for morning people it's hard to work, play, sleep, educate, eat and connect to others.
Work and school.
Most jobs are 8-5, some open later, some close later, but 8-5 is the norm. Personally, I do best between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The problem is that it's hard finding jobs that accommodate these times that aren't temporary, night stocking or fast food.
Class wise, there is only so many night classes available, too. Most night classes are graduate level and the ones that aren't are at the same time as each other so you have to pick between two or more classes you want and/or need. You're limited.
Then there is the problem of food. On campus the latest thing open is Chick-Fil-A, it closes at midnight during the fall and spring semesters. Generally that's okay because people will take a break from night class, or from studying, to grab some food for later. The problem is during the summer. In the summer I live on campus due to my night classes, many others do as well. Again, because of how I learn and when I learn best, I get hungry late in the night/ early morning. During the summer, the only two things that are open in the cafeteria are Starbucks and Chick-fil-a. The cafe is open in one to two hours intervals, 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Keep this in mind, by the time you leave campus, go to work and come back it's 5-6 p.m. Then, you still have to do your homework or readings before class starts at 6:30 p.m. So, riddle me this, when and how am I supposed to eat?
Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks are even worse. Chick-Fil-A is only open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and due to the many on campus camps for high school kids there is 100+ people trying to eat between noon and 1 p.m. Due to that, all faculty possible try to eat between 11 a.m. and noon, so really you can only eat there between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. if you're awake. The same problem applies to Starbucks, but thankfully they are open till 3 p.m. so, if you don't work that day there is two hours where you can go to Starbucks. Let's face it though, unless you have a meal plan, it gets expensive.
Sleep, family and friends.
So, after you go to class, you're right awake. You take the food you bought earlier, heat it up, turn on Netflix and eat while you take a break from school. After an episode (or two), you get back to working on homework and readings. This goes on till 2 or 3 a.m., then you get to sleep (if you don't work the next day). You wake up and it's the next day it's past noon, possibly even past lunch time, but you're rested and ready for the day. It's time to get ready and eat, but you get out of your room only to meet stern looks from friends and family. They label you as "lazy" or "anti-social." Now this is what's upsetting. Not only do you know now what people perceive you as, but it's false. You live on a schedule that differs from what is socially expectable, but you still work just as hard as everyone else, if not harder due to the complications your schedule makes. This label isn't just falsely representing you, but it's demeaning and it's an assumption. You try to explain but people just say it's an excuse. "You decide when to do things. When to sleep, eat, and go to class. You just don't want to do it early." This is what people say. They don't know. So, I'm here telling you it's not a choice, it's who I am. We don't have a say in when we get tired, or when we learn best. Sure, we can postpone it by taking pills, drinking energy drinks or soda, but why? These are such unhealthy alternatives, why not just do what's best for your body? Your body knows itself best, listen to it not anyone else.
So, to everyone who isn't a night owl: we're not "lazy" or "anti-social," we just have a different internal clock than you. Get over it. Accept it. Move on.
