A day in the life

Woke up, got out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up, I noticed I was late
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
— “A Day in the Life,” Paul McCartney and John Lennon

It doesn’t start with first period or end when the final bell rings.
A day in the life of a Yakima Valley high school student begins when the alarm sounds at 6:30 or 6 or even 5:45 a.m. and doesn’t end until homework’s done — or at least most of it is, anyway — at 10 or 11 p.m., or as late as 1 a.m.
Highlights include ordering pizza, listening to music on iPods, reading books that aren’t for class. Then there are the lowlights: backpacks that weigh 50 pounds, wasting half a lunch period in line, waiting for the bus.
It’s all part of being a teenager. From trying to stay awake in class to doing homework and hanging out with friends, Unleashed staffers document one day in their typical routine.

Here’s a look inside the lives of 21 local high school students.

Ashley George
West Valley High School