Healthy sleep is one of the most important things that a person can have. Without it, there are countless short and long-term side effects. Students experiencing sleep deprivation is not uncommon in the U.S., and it's almost normalized. With schools starting at 8 a.m., kids often wake up at the crack of dawn to account for travel and mealtime in the mornings. With after-school activities, homework, and sometimes even employment, this makes it nearly impossible for students to get a healthy nine hours of sleep every night. By having later start times in schools, students will have the opportunity to get enough sleep and thrive in both their academic and personal pursuits.