By Heather Kryszak

College requires a lot from students - maturity, responsibility and most importantly sleep, all of which sometimes go missing in college life.

About 63 percent of college students do not get enough sleep, according to a study by the National Sleep Foundation.

“I see more darkness than light because of the time I go to bed,” said one of those students, junior Terry Jourdain.

Jourdain, a social work major, spends a lot of time studying social work methods and doing group projects. He also has to balance all of his schoolwork with his full time job. He said he normally goes to bed around 3 or 4 a.m. and tries to sleep until 9 a.m. However, like most students, he has grown accustomed to surviving on less sleep than adults need.

"I've gotten used to four or five hours," Jourdain said.

Princeton's University Health Services' Web site indicates that even though someone might feel like he or she is getting enough sleep, the changes are gradual and can not only affect that person but those around them. Lack of sleep can cause irritability and even depression, according to the Web site.

"Fatigue will prevent you from peak academic performance by hindering memorization, concentration, and motivation," the Web site indicates.

Getting enough sleep isn't just about how long a person lies in bed, but depends on the quality of sleep they're getting. Princeton's Web site indicates that trying to catch up on sleep during weekends doesn't do the trick -- it's better to get one's body clock set by going to bed at the same time every night. Rapid eye movement is experienced during uninterrupted sleep and is necessary for learning, problem solving and short-term memories, according to the Web site.

The normal amount of sleep for those in their late teens would be equivalent to that of an adult - about eight or nine hours a night, according to the Web site. However, the amount of sleep a person needs can vary from six to 10 hours.

Students who wake up feeling like they need an extra pep in their step will reach for the coffee or red bull and sometimes resort to a stronger method, such as over-the-counter drugs like NoDoz. A person will know if they had enough sleep if they feel alert with 30 or 45 minutes after they wake up, according to State University of New York at Buffalo Student Health Services Web site.

"I never had a hard time sleeping while I was a student at Buffalo State," said alumni Thomas Walsh.

However, he said he would occasionally still feel like he was tired most of the time. That's when he turned to alternative methods to stay awake in class.

Many students, like senior Jenny Beck, spend their time socializing and hanging out, never giving much thought to what time they go to sleep. Beck said her usual bedtime is around 3 a.m., but admits that she would be asleep much sooner if it wasn’t for work and homework.

Whether a student is staying awake late for socialization or homework, the body needs an adequate amount of sleep for the body to function - advice for college students looking to graduate one day.

Contact Heather Kryszak at kryshm19@mail.buffalostate.edu