Spring is here! While this means later sunsets, it also means earlier sunrises and more advantages for early risers.

Since I was about five years old, I have been a morning person. I'd estimate that 97.5 percent of the time I am the first of my siblings that is awake. I also believe there are numerous benefits to being an early riser.

1. I arrive to school earlier than anyone else.

In high school, it would take about 45 minutes to an hour to commute by bus, and I knew if I didn't pass a given checkpoint at a given time, my commute would be significantly longer. I embraced this trend in high school, as I always championed the spirit with high energy. That would also give me the time to finish any homework I had not had the time to do the night before. It also helped that I took pride in my school and the teachers, so that gave me another motive to get to school as early and as quickly as possible.

2. I get time to myself, especially in the morning.

My first semester of college, my roommate woke up at the same time I did but he then left for mandated weight-lifting sessions, so I had about an hour to myself. I would use it to go to breakfast, get ready for the day or for other things of that nature. During the weekends, brunch does not begin until 11 a.m., so there is practically nothing to do except surf the web, listen to music and do homework.

3. It sets a good tone in the morning.

In many senses, my lifestyle is the opposite of a typical college student. Many go on late-night adventures, wake up after noon, party during the weekends (I admit that I do that sometimes) and stick with others. I just think that, being the early riser I am, there is less stress and less pressure to get things done. And my lifestyle aligns with one of Aesop's morals: Slow and steady wins the race.

4. I don't have to be reminded to wake up.

If I am late to something or have to be reminded to do certain things, then I my level of self-esteem plunges to a level of depression. Unless it is neccessary, I normally don't wake up other people. I don't want to downgrade someone's self-esteem or make another person lessen mine. I believe a high self-esteem is so important for success.

5. I get to bring positive energy.

I know that the days ahead of me will be as great as they will ever be. It allows me to look forward to these things in the future, and I bring in the energy that most people my age don't have.

6. My experience at church feels more surreal.

I always try to go to the morning service at my school's chapel because I had always tended to go in the morning back at home. Then, as a result, I blend in my high energy and power to worship God the way I want to.

7. The atmosphere is surreal in the morning.

Whenever there is nighttime rain or snow, I just have that awestruck feeling when I look out the window. I walk around by myself occasionally and relish in the refreshed feeling outside in the morning.