5 a.m. practice sounds like a nightmare.
The drive to school is quick since it’s 4 a.m. and no one is awake, at least anyone sane. As the car rolls to a stop, I feel fatigue washing over me once again. If I were a normal human, I would be sleeping in a warm bed, not in shorts getting ready to play badminton for the next two hours. But I open the door and head to the gym, the cold morning air making me regret every step away from my dad’s car.
Practice goes by in a breeze, but I’m left feeling more tired than ever after it. I take refuge in my friend’s car as first period is in session, bracing myself for the next six hours of school. My legs are sore and my stomach calls out for some food. I just want school to be over with and it didn’t even start yet. At least I feel awake.
The walk to second period is a giant pain. With nowhere to put my stuff, I’m carrying around all my gear in addition to my backpack around school for the entire day. All I can think about in second period is how many hours are left in the school day and when I’ll be able to sleep. It motivates me enough to get through until lunchtime.
Practice goes by in a breeze, but I’m left feeling more tired than ever after it. I take refuge in my friend’s car as first period is in session, bracing myself for the next six hours of school. My legs are sore and my stomach calls out for some food. I just want school to be over with and it didn’t even start yet. At least I feel awake.
The walk to second period is a giant pain. With nowhere to put my stuff, I’m carrying around all my gear in addition to my backpack around school for the entire day. All I can think about in second period is how many hours are left in the school day and when I’ll be able to sleep. It motivates me enough to get through until lunchtime.
Sixth period is when the crash comes. The fruit snacks I had during break and the Nutella sandwich I had for lunch are enough to keep my embarrassing stomach growls at bay, but the sleepiness is creeping in. I’ve been awake for nine hours. I struggle to listen to the math lecture. It’s a miracle. I actually make it through the lesson and understand everything. (Maybe I have more willpower than I thought?)
I walk into seventh period. Just one more hour. One hour too long away from my bed. The minutes tick by slowly. I feel like I’ve been stuck at school for an eternity. When the bell rings, I am elated at the chance to finally take a nap.
But being home brings up another problem: homework. To be able to wake up at 4 a.m. and not fall asleep during practice, I have to be in bed by 10 p.m. The challenge is to finish all my worksheets, read all my assignments, and study before that time. It’s pretty hard if you’re easily distracted by a vibrating phone and random notifications on the corner of your screen.
When I turn off the lights at 9:50 and crawl into the warm embrace of my wonderful bed all I can think is, “Is it all worth it?” Waking up so early to practice doesn’t seem like anything regular people will do but it’s the price to pay to exceed at something I love, badminton.
I walk into seventh period. Just one more hour. One hour too long away from my bed. The minutes tick by slowly. I feel like I’ve been stuck at school for an eternity. When the bell rings, I am elated at the chance to finally take a nap.
But being home brings up another problem: homework. To be able to wake up at 4 a.m. and not fall asleep during practice, I have to be in bed by 10 p.m. The challenge is to finish all my worksheets, read all my assignments, and study before that time. It’s pretty hard if you’re easily distracted by a vibrating phone and random notifications on the corner of your screen.
When I turn off the lights at 9:50 and crawl into the warm embrace of my wonderful bed all I can think is, “Is it all worth it?” Waking up so early to practice doesn’t seem like anything regular people will do but it’s the price to pay to exceed at something I love, badminton.