As autumn rolls around, so do plenty of new changes. Extracurriculars, new sports, and an onslaught of homework are all made more difficult by daylight savings, the practice of turning your clock back an hour in March and an hour forward in November, in order to preserve daylight throughout the year. Traditionally, it began to ensure farmers could catch that one extra hour of sun to sow their crops. But in 2021, it certainly won’t make students’ lives any easier. 

“Getting to school in the dark and leaving after the sun has set messes with my sense of routine,” says Avika Mathur, a junior at Eagan High School. “I have extracurriculars after school, which means I usually leave after it’s dark.” Fellow junior Mia Dahn agrees. “I wish the sun was out so I felt more motivated.” 

Daylight savings has been a big adjustment for students, forcing them to sleep and wake up earlier, which for many can be increasingly difficult. This is just another warning sign of winter, where sunlit afternoons and productive days can be slim. “It can be hard to stick to a schedule when the seasons are changing,” Mathur continues. “I already miss summer, just because we had so much time.” 

The transition between winter and fall can be an adjustment for many, and in a year like 2021, it feels as though the change will never end. Hopefully the students of Eagan High take this adjustment in stride.