Blog #11 for HONO1397

 As we approach the midpoint of this semester, I’d like to give an overview of everything I’ve been able to learn from this class and how it has contributed immensely to my o personal sleep life as well. For starters, I can’t express my gratitude enough for being enrolled in this class; it has truly been an eye opening experience every class day. I have been able to understand the process of sleep, the stages once you’re actually asleep, how your heart rate fluctuates and depending on what stage you’re in (both REM and NREM), your body uses said stage in order to heal your body, release chemicals which are essential for growth in teens, and to return the body to homeostasis to start your next day healthy and active. 

The topic that we’ve discussed in class that has really intrigued me is basically anything having to do with sleep and teens. I was always familiar with sleep being important for recovery and growth but I never measured its importance for those prepubescent teenagers! They already have it hard enough with their circadian rhythm shifting which is why most teens tend to fall asleep later than toddles and adults, but it is even more difficult for them in a society that expects so much from them. Ranging from early classes to the amount of responsibilities these teenagers assume, as well as the technology which surrounds them, teenagers are in a constant fight with to fit at least 7 hours into their already tight schedule.

As of now, I don’t have a chosen topic for the essay that is due at the end of the semester but I am leaning towards possibly discussing sleep and teen life as well as maybe the topic of politics/war and sleep. Another topic that we haven’t discussed nearly enough in class is how sleep deprivation can affect our spiritual life and what the Bible might say in regards to that.

Overall, my expectations for this class have been blown out of the water and I cannot wait to continue discussing eye opening topics in class!