We are starting a new website page for teens called "Whatever." This is the place to tell us about something interesting or outrageous that you saw or experienced at school, in your neighborhood, in a magazine, or on TV or movies, or whatever.

    We'll give you credit for anything that you send that we use, or we won't mention your name if you'd prefer to be anonymous. It's your choice.

    Welcome to the National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families! We know you're out there. Let us know what's on your mind!

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"A note from Lindsey"

Subject: thank you so much
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 01:01 am
thanx so much for this article on sleep deprivation
it is so true
i am a 15 year old girl 3/4ths the way through my freshman year in high
school.
i am severely sleep deprived
last semester i can recall staying up all night at least 5 times and all of
those were on school nights.
right now is a school night and i am still up--for me it is 12:49AM.
i at least am getting more sleep than last semester.
i think last semester i averaged about 2hours of sleep per night but dont
tell my parents--they get mad. Now its more like 6 hours of sleep.
last semester i thought it was early to go to bed at 1:00AM!!!
part of the problem is homework though--but it might be just because i
am in sophomore and junior classes right now.
I am tired so i think i will go ahead and finish my rough draft for my speech
and then study for a quiz in World History tomorrow-*yawn*-and
hopefully i will make it to bed by...2_
good enough estimate
if i dont finish by then i will just take time out of art class to read the
section of history for my quiz!
you know what is funny though--this speech i am doing, well our class was
split into groups and we had to choose problems that teenagers had to deal
with and one group chose sleep deprivation!!!
i cant wait to hear that!!
oh yeah--last week the sophomores had to take a TAAS test (i live =
inTexas and we have to take those stupid things) so everyone that wasnt
taking the TAAS didnt have to come to school till 11:00--that was HEAVEN!!!
everyday should be like that!!! everyone would be well rested and
everything!!!
that would be wonderful!!!
well thank you so much!!!!!
i support this all the way!!!!
Sleep is a privelidge i dont get to have very often!!!
thank you--bye!!
~*~Lindsey~*~
PS its now past 1:00AM!!

    Lindsey's experience is like many teens, and their parents.  We know that we need more sleep, but it's hard to change our schedules so that we get more sleep.  One of the problems is that when we are sleep deprived we are less productive -- it takes longer to do homework and other work, even though we may think we are alert and doing well.

    We have been in touch with Lindsey and suggested she try to get at least 6-7 hours each night and see if she can get her homework done more quickly.  She said she would try it.  We'll let you know what happens.