Energy: the fundamental capacity that fuels our bodies, powering everything from physical movement and thoughts to our emotional state; essential to everyone. 

Especially high schoolers during finals week.

If you take a moment to watch students in the morning as they walk into the building, it’s impossible not to notice the numerous types of energy drinks they carry.

“(I drink them) like every green day,” sophomore Lily Greenlee said.

Studies from the National Library of Medicine have shown that nearly two-thirds of high school students have drunk an energy drink at some point in their high school career.

So what’s the reasoning behind this? Furthermore, what makes the need for additional energy so great in today’s culture?

“I don’t get enough sleep at night. I have a bunch of AP classes that I have to do homework for,” senior Lilly Araiza said. “I need them to stay awake.”

With everything from two-hour sports practices to 100-question math reviews, more is expected from high-achieving students than ever before, requiring early mornings and late nights to stay afloat.

“Normally (I drink them) because of soccer, because I do my homework at school since I’m bad at not procrastinating,” junior Audrey Kessler said,

Even with the craze for these beverages, there is still worry about the health issues that could be possible. Some health issues include insomnia, anxiety and even heart issues. 

For reference, a medium-sized cup of coffee typically has around 100 mg of caffeine. This is also the average recommended amount for a teenager to consume in a day. An energy drink has anywhere between 150-300 mg of caffeine.

“Sometimes if I’m running at soccer, I can feel my heart, like, beating out of my chest, and then I think I’m gonna have a heart attack,” Kessler said.

The endless possibilities for flavors and energy drink brands are arguably what add to the appeal. If you go into any grocery store, you’re only a couple of paces away from an aisle filled floor to ceiling with distinct brands that each have their own flavor profiles.

“The Bloom strawberry watermelon is my favorite. I think the Bloom flavors are better in general, which is why I normally choose those,” junior Emma Flaharty.

As energy drinks continue to line convenience store shelves and fill backpacks, their popularity among students shows no sign of slowing.

The conversation about energy drinks is no longer about staying awake– it’s about balance, awareness, and understanding what fuels success without costing long-term wellbeing.