What Is America's Biggest Problem

America’s greatest problem lies right in front of them. From ages 14 to 30, young American’s are dealt to obtain over 60 years of knowledge in such a short time span. Both male and females between the ages of 14 to 30 years old, are expected to know how to graduate high school, go to college, find a job, create a family, support that family, and have enough money to retire when that time comes. Think of these stages as categories. Each category has subcategories; one being how society portrays to accomplish such stage, another being the negative effects on a student’s health because of the systematic society, and finally my proposed solution to fix this corrupt society. The reason why America’s society is corrupt is because of all of the strenuous

and rigorous work needed to be accomplished. Young American’s are expected to be well educated on topics that they will not use in their lifespan. To add insult to injury, because of the way society is set up, many administrators in the school systems, both high school and in college, require teachers and professors to have certain amounts of information to be discussed within an academic semester. Administrators even add certain paperwork that needs to be accomplished by students. The initial problem I see here is that teachers and professors are limited to their vast knowledge. Teachers and professors are expected to provide information and assist students to learn a particular topic. They are limited in doing so when administrator’s take their right to do that away from them. Administrators are the reason why America’s society is corrupt, they limit teachers and professors of their capabilities to teach, and as a result students are required to obtain so much knowledge and experience in order to live the way society is portrayed. I see it is mighty difficult for young American’s to achieve such a difficult task without any consequences. There are many consequences with regards to health complications and sleep disorders because of the way society is set up. Because we have sleep disorders America’s problem lies within school administrators. I propose that school administrators set up programs, reduce the curriculums, and even allow their teachers and professors to teach what they know and what they see might be useful to obtain in a student’s life. The result of that will be happier and longer lived lives.

The objective in graduating high school is fairly simple, pass all classes and then a high schooler receives his or her diploma. The way that society works within high schools is much different than the objective. The specific process that administrators require students to do in high school are much more than of what many high schoolers can handle. Administrators require unnecessary information for students to learn which causes stress, headaches, and sleepless nights. The side effects of all of the unnecessary knowledge results in health complications. Because of the workload put on by administrators, high school students are unable to get sufficient amounts of rest per night. Many high school students are involved in clubs, sports, and work. With the addition of school work, it becomes nearly impossible for these types of students to get adequate amounts of rest. A national high school survey in 2007, states that “researchers found that 68.9 percent of responders reported insufficient sleep on an average school night” (National Sleep Foundation). It is astonishing that over two-thirds of high schoolers feel they do not receive appropriate amounts of sleep. The lack of sleep is due to the vigorous schedule that society puts on these teenagers. There are many consequences of not getting enough sleep, students with sleep deprivation have a “48% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease” (Abrams, 496). This statistic shows that because of sleep deprivation brought by administrators to students, administrators are no longer doing their job of preparing students for their future. Administrators are putting students in a position to fail later in life and that is not the way it should be. Administrators need to be aware of this growing problem in America. They need to provide solutions, such as a less vigorous curriculum or a lesser work load, and anything that will reduce the amount of time and stress a student has to put into a particular subject. I personally believe putting more electives into a curriculum that will teach students life skills is a viable option that will produce creativity and overall reduce the amount of work a student currently endures. Administrators have the ability to impact these teens’ lives as they prepare themselves for college and the real world.
The objective of going to college is to get a higher, more developed education on a specific topic while building up a resume.

This is where students are able to excel in a particular field. The way that society is setup, just like high school, students are forced to have a strict schedule, which may consist of school, work, sports, clubs, and volunteer opportunities. In college many students lack sleep because of these hectic schedules as they did in high school. In college, sleep deprivation is more of an issue than in high school. Alike in high school, administrators are at the root of this problem. Because administrators require so many requirements in college, sleep deprivation is a result of their decisions. An article done in 2014 talking about sleep disorders and college students says that, “nearly one in four students is at risk for a sleep disorder” (Hershner). The article gets specific on how having a sleep disorder effects the productivity of grades, “Students who obtained more sleep (long sleepers, greater than 9 hours) had higher GPAs than short sleepers (less than 6 hours): GPAs were 3.24 vs 2.74 on average” (Gaultney). This statistic should get the attention school administrators. College administrator’s goal for students is to provide opportunities for students to excel and perform at a high level. As seen in this study, students tend to perform higher when they get the appropriate amounts of rest. If administrators realized the negative effects their

system has on students, then they would also realize better productivity from the student’s results in an overall admission to the school and ultimately more money for the university or college. I propose that college administrators set up specific programs that allow professors and students to go to so that students become more educated on the negative effects of sleep deprivation. I also propose that the school administrators limit the required amount of academic courses separated from a student’s specific major. Although, I believe that it is important to be a well-rounded student in various subjects, there is already more than enough subject material to learn about a particular field. School administrators need to limit the number of university programs that a student is required to take. There is simply too much material and not enough time in a day to get everything done adequately.
Specifically speaking, sleep deprivation causes students to lack awareness. Being aware at school is essential to learning. Going to school is supposed to allow students to gain knowledge about certain topics. If students aren’t able to pay attention to their best ability during class how are they supposed to apply what they gained in class into tests and the real world? From the scientific aspect of sleep deprivation, “toxic proteins remain in your brain cells, wreaking havoc by impairing your ability to think” (Bradberry). When a person does not get adequate rest, it is physically and mentally more difficult to react and to think. The issue in our society with sleep deprivation is that students aren’t getting enough sleep so they are not fully aware of what they are learning. School is a place where students go to learn and gain knowledge to better themselves to be on their own. They need to learn these essential life skills and expectations of life in order to put food on the table for themselves and their families. Sleep is essential to function at a high level, “skipping sleep impairs your brain function across the board. It slows your ability to process information and problem solve, kills your creativity, and catapults your stress levels and emotional reactivity” (Colten). Inadequate sleep results in lower awareness, which results in less obtained knowledge.
With adequate sleep, people’s awareness levels are high. Performance levels in the classroom are much better. Students are able to learn at a quicker and more efficient level. With plenty of rest students no longer have those toxic proteins in their brain. The toxic proteins are removed through appropriate sleep. "If you are trying to learn something, whether it’s physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice-but something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better” (Cai, 596). Students with appropriate hours of sleep are able to have better memory of the class discussion. Better memory, results in better opportunities to succeed on projects, home work, exams, class participation, and real world life applications. An analogy I like to use is about planes and pilots. Would a passenger of a plane be comfortable with their pilot not getting enough sleep, yet the pilot is still flying the plane? Most people, would not take that risk of having a sleep deprived pilot having the fate of their further existence in the pilot’s hands. Similarly, students that are sleep deprived are not aware enough to make educated decisions in which they would be if they had adequate amounts of rest.
The potential ability of a student with sleep deprivation limits the ability of producing at a high level.

Productivity of a person with sleep deprivation tends to be on the low side of most scales. People with sleep deprivation produce worse results in the classroom, worse within the work place, and worse in their personal lives. People with sleep deprivation struggle to produce proper results, “products are like humans, if you can’t take care of them you can’t sell them” (Alsaggaf, 175). If people can’t sell themselves in life, they limit their options to succeed. Life is all about how well a person can sell them self to their desired objective. If a person isn’t capable of being them self throughout life, then they are limiting their opportunities to

succeed.
However, with appropriate amounts of sleep, productivity and the ability to learn quickly will soar high above the clouds. Sleep distresses the body, with appropriate amounts of sleep the body is at a distressed level. Being in a distressed state allows better opportunities to produce. Better opportunities, create the potential to succeed. The potential to succeed eventually results in productivity. Productivity, the byproduct of success, results in happiness. And happiness is priceless. Happiness is the missing puzzle piece in the lifelong masterpiece.
Students live in a society where they are forced to be busy to learn and to build their resumes. There are so many requirements to get into potential colleges and jobs. All of these requirements create stress and unnecessary amounts of work. This busy schedule results in a sleep disorder called, sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is an issue in this society, limiting the possibilities to succeed. School administrators need to be aware of the fact that students do not get adequate rest and should restructure their plans to accommodate the student’s needs. They need to be more strategic and lenient on the assignments they give out, and even on how they provide information for teachers and professors to teach the class. In theory, by providing more and better opportunities for their students, students will respond by ultimately improving the economy. Improving the economy results in more money to businesses and more opportunities to make money. More money creates more opportunities to be happy.

The objective in fulfilling all other aspects in life (getting a job, creating a family, supporting a family, and having money in retirement) is using prior knowledge and experience into practice. To get to that prior knowledge and experience school administrators need to think of ways that most effectively impact students in a positive way. In the current system of longer days and shorter nights, there is simply not enough time and patience to produce at a high level while maintaining sanity. America has a major, yet so simple problem to solve, if school administrators start taking action to their failures.