Living the life of a teacher and college student is an amazing experience. There are so many people that you get to meet and work with. There are countless memories made. Being in college, however, students live as if sleep is the least of their worries or priorities. There are many negative affects to a lack of sleep. For example, staying up all night to study may result in a bad grade because you can't stay awake to focus on your assessment. Another example would be grading papers until the early hours of the next morning, but you can hardly focus while teaching the next day. For such reasons, I recommend getting the most amount of sleep you can within reason. However, there are certain occasions that it is totally worth the lack of sleep or exhaustion the following day. In my experience, the following occasions are special occasions (in no particular order) that warrant me to stay awake beyond my bed time.

1. Good Conversations

Those late night chats with your roommate, spouse, or friend after the lights go out can be some of the best memories you'll have in the future. For some reason, conversations during the day just don't seem to be the same as the ones you have when you face hits your pillow or you're in your pajamas.

2. Post-Concert Food

Typically concerts take place later in the evening. And if you don't get to go to concerts often, it almost seems wrong to just go home afterward instead of getting a shake, fries, or other treat at a local hot spot. You must complete the experience with delightful food and conversation with the people you jammed out with.

3. Time With Family

Recently, some friends and I took a mini, four-hour road trip to northern MI. It was a great experience, and we were hoping to get home at a reasonable time in the evening so we could get up early the next day. Yet, we decided to make a pit stop at "mi casa" to have dinner with my family. Although we got home later than we had planned, it was probably the best decision we made the entire trip. Our stomachs and souls were full. There is nothing like dining with family, sharing different languages, and lots of laughter.

4. Assignments

I debated about whether or not this is worth the lack of sleep... In the end, occasionally staying up to get work done is worth fewer Zzzz's. But if it affects your daily routine, taking care of yourself must come first, while better planning must be implemented. For my role as a teacher, I have stayed up grading tests, writing prompts and planning lessons. Getting these things done is undoubtedly important. Being able to write constructive and encouraging comments on assignments has been enjoyable. Like the typical student, I have stayed up late to get assignments done. Sometimes it is just the fact of the matter.

5. Celebrations

Whenever someone I'm living with has a birthday, we usually celebrate at midnight. Because of this, I've napped at 10 PM to be awaken at 11:55 PM to sing happy birthday and celebrate a joyous life. On one of my birthdays, I fell asleep early, and my family woke me up singing me happy birthday! It was a pleasant surprise once I finally became aware of what was going on and how much excitement they had. My family also stays up late on Christmas Eve to open presents precisely at midnight on Christmas day. This has always been fun! And of course New Year's is a mixture of days that assume we will sacrifice sleep to see the new year.

Overall, I love to feel well rested and ready for each day by getting enough sleep. However, I cannot deny that there are select occasions when I sacrifice sleep for making good memories, spending time with loved ones and celebrating special occasions with wonderful people.