A caffeine fix? More like a caffeine problem
Q Do you think it's appropriate or safe for high school students to be drinking coffee on a daily basis? My daughter argues that all of her friends do it and that it's not as bad as drinking Red Bull and those types of beverages. Have you seen this sort of trend at your school? What's behind it?
Mrs. M,
Pembroke
AThese past weeks I've observed a new sign of spring at my school: The sight of large iced-coffees in the hands of many high school students. They down the beverages before school begins and toss the Styrofoam cups in a basket, where they often land on spent cans of so-called "energy drinks." Yes, we have a problem.
As students try to pack more and more activity into a day, they fall well short of the doctor-recommended nine hours of sleep and turn to readily available caffeinated drinks to jump-start their days, revive their afternoons, and prolong their homework-laden nights.
It's a vicious cycle that can start subtly and lead to major problems, including illicit use of prescription drugs such as Ritalin.
That might sound alarmist, but a recent Columbia University report revealed that abuse of stimulants on college campus es has almost doubled over the last decade.
A n occasional latte for your daughter might be benign; a daily dependence on coffee, however, is a problem. An 8-ounce cup of coffee from
The marketing of these drinks tantalizes teenagers, with names such as "Rock Star," "Full Throttle," and "Monster."
In some circles, fancy coffee drinks seem to promise the sophistication that cigarettes once dangled before teens. As educators we should try to help our students see through such manipulation. More difficult, we might have to consider arriving to class without a mug ourselves.
Q My son is a sophomore in the public high school. He is a good student (A's and B's) and takes a couple of Advanced Placement classes. He also plays two major sports. What else should he be doing to prepare himself for the college application process? At what point should we begin looking at colleges?
J.W.,
Braintree
A Now seems like an appropriate time to begin a conversation about college, given that admissions committees tend to scrutinize the junior year. Try to keep the conversation light at this point and sketch the preliminary questions in broad strokes: large or small, public or private, near or far, liberal arts or a more specific course of study.
Encourage your son to speak with relatives and friends in college as well as recent alumni. Have him weigh their impressions alongside his own ambitions, keeping in mind that teens can be mercurial creatures.
At a glance, your son will look like hundreds of other qualified applicants. And doubtless counselors will recommend a distinguishing hobby or volunteer experience. Thus, have him pursue one that fits in with his character and values, rather than one he thinks will impress an admissions committee.
Have your son work with his counselor next fall to select a list of schools that match his talents and ambitions. Too often students apply to the same group of schools as friends and classmates, overlooking many great colleges throughout the country and north of the border.
Most important, help your son to see his remaining high school years as an experience to be lived fully rather than a mere means to a college acceptance.
That sort of prizing of each day provides the valuable lessons of perspective and gratitude.
Ron Fletcher teaches English at Boston College High School. To submit a question, e-mail asktheteacher@globe.com. Include your name, town, and e-mail address. Questions, upon request, can be printed anonymously. Ask the Teacher runs on alternate Sundays with Campus Insider, a roundup of higher education items. 