The long, exhausting walk to the bus stop every morning can be intimidating on its own. The noise of the frogs croaking, the pinch of sunlight lighting the pitch black sky, and incoming traffic blaring in the background. We once thought it was just a temporary change, but it now has the possibility of lasting much longer than we all expected. 

   This March 15, the U.S Senate officially passed the Sunshine Protection Act. The bill is on track to make daylight savings permanent, beginning November 2023. Starting later next year, doctors have already spoken out, explaining that it could benefit our health by helping us align with our natural tempos. According to the report published by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), the bill has the potential to reduce the number of car accidents, reduce cardiac issues, better support agriculture, and improve the state of our economy (govtrack.us).

   For some students with busier schedules, though, this change might require a big adjustment. Alexis Galletta, a senior at PPCHS, says she’s up from 4am-10pm everyday–whether it’s because of her job at Cali Coffee or staying on top of her grind at Planet Fitness. “I feel as though I already spend 24 hours of my day being active in some way. With the combination of my job—which can start much earlier than you’d think—and working out after school, this could almost be detrimental to me.” Alexis, who’s set to major in Physical Education at FIU, knows that there isn’t time to cut out any part of her routine. 

   On the other hand, Alexis knows that it can prove to benefit her more than she thought. As SGA president, she knows the struggle of having too little hours in the day. “Our pep rallies this year, which were newly held at night, were difficult for reasons regarding preparation. [Already having] so little time in the day, plus having kids out in the dark, wasn’t favored by any of us. Maybe the Sunshine Protection Act will help us out a little!” Though this is her last year at PPCHS, and she is ending her term as president, she hopes the light of the sun will make things a little brighter for next year’s class!

   For others, they almost prefer the permanent clock shift. Sophomore Tiffany Murrillo, who spends plenty of time on the field, argues that the shift would allow her to spend more time outside, being active.“I usually spend a lot of my time outside of my house–to either work out or practice with my soccer team. When we’re out on the field, the sun usually sets on us. With more brightness during my practices, it could make us a whole lot more productive—and take away the bright streetlines beaming on our faces!”

   The Sunshine Protection Act can be beneficial for our health and economy, but regardless, many have differing viewpoints on the subject. Despite the misconception that it might change the number of hours in a full day, it will maximize energy usage for us all. Though the bill has only been passed from the Senate, the House is now debating whether or not it will head to the president’s desk.