The 4:45-7:20 p.m. classes aren’t always the most glamorous. Not hungry enough to eat dinner before, starving after. In winter, you’re lucky to see the sun even before the class starts. However, I’d happily take every class late at night if it meant I never had to take an 8 a.m. 

8 a.m. classes are miserable. Waking up at 6 a.m. to crawl out of bed, putting on clothes that at least slightly coordinate, attempting to eat despite the daily morning nausea and driving 25 minutes to campus so I can get to class on time is my own personal nightmare. 

I like a slow morning. My natural clock tends to wake me up at 7 or 8 a.m., and when I can wake up without an alarm, I always feel more rested. Starting my workday at 8 a.m. leads to a huge decline in my productivity. 8 a.m. lectures and labs wreak havoc on me physically, while my sleep-deprived brain retained absolutely nothing from those classes. 

I balance a lot of responsibilities between school, work, my internship, family and relationship obligations. When my day doesn’t start until 10 a.m. or later most mornings, I can squeeze in some much-needed self-care or get a jump on assignments for the day. In fact, I’m writing this opinion before 9 a.m. on a Friday so I can preserve my sanity this busy weekend and have it turned in by the Sunday deadline. 

There’s a reason why there’s been a push for later K-12 start times. According to an article from Brookings, there is a correlation between later start times and an increase in students’ alertness, attention, memory, cognitive functioning, attendance, behavior and course grades. 

4:45-7:20 p.m. and 7:45-10:30 p.m. class times are accessible for non-traditional students. For those working full-time and/or caring for children, earlier class times just aren’t an option. They need these options to complete their degrees. Late classes allow people to pursue their education without pausing their other responsibilities.  

I even prefer the 4:45-7:20 p.m. classes over 1:40-4:20 p.m. classes. Like most people, I tend to experience an energy crash in the afternoon around 2-3 p.m. every day. According to Northwest Medicine, it’s part of our natural circadian rhythm. This can make having class during that time block difficult.  

The late-night classes may feel miserable to some, but they’re perfect for me. 

Centennial Hall. Photo by Anysia Hovel.