Love and Hate Relationship with Caffeine

Hailey Kim (Lexington High School, 2026)

"The first time I experienced caffeine in 7th grade, studying for my school's midterms, I thought I had unlocked a secret weapon. But little did I know, my so-called secret weapon would soon become my greatest enemy"

Coming from a competitive area in South Korea, caffeine was an easily accessible and normalized energy boost for students like me. It took away my sleep but gave me the energy to study longer than others, and naturally, my grades improved.

However, I was young- too young to understand the hidden consequences of what I was doing to my body and mind.

At first, it seemed harmless: a warm cup of coffee or a large can of energy drink during late-night study sessions. I felt more confident and empowered than ever as I thought I had discovered a secret weapon to stay ahead of others. I loved the attention I received as my grades soared, and even when others warned me about relying on caffeine, I continued to reach for it quietly, afraid I would lose that recognition. As time passed, the pressure of having to be perfect grew on me, and I found myself stuck in a trapped cycle. What I thought were my strengths turned against me as I would lie awake at night, feeling my heart race from all the caffeine flowing through my veins. The quiet moments gave me more time to overthink and the fear of failure slowly consumed me.

Eventually, when things became severe, I realized that I was sacrificing my health and well-being to chase academic success. I struggled to focus throughout the day, feeling this vicious pressure to consume more caffeine to sustain my grades. Over time, I began questioning whether this pursuit of academic success was worth sacrificing my well-being.

Looking back, I now see how normalized caffeine consumption was in my community. Many of my peers often spoke proudly about how many hours of sleep they had sacrificed to study, and I realized that caffeine wasn't the only problem; it was the stereotypes that normalized exhaustion. This acknowledgment quickly made me determined to bring change by starting my own project, AceCaffeineJourney.

Through this experience, I learned to think more critically about the pressures we face as students and how easily we sacrifice ourselves to meet impossible expectations. I now strive to balance ambition with self-care and advocate for others to do the same.