Social Media Director Manisha Ratakonda writes her opinion on various sports issues, both globally and at Hockaday.

Whoever coined the term “Good Morning” must have been cracking a joke, because the phrase itself is an oxymoron. Hell to me is just an infinite morning filled with the never-ending sound of my marimba alarm, the incessant taste of mint toothpaste and cold tile floors.

It is my belief, however, that “morning people” are made, not born. And as an athlete, I haven’t had much of a choice but to become a “morning person.” During crew and swimming seasons, I am required to attend morning practices that are held at the crack of dawn. I struggle to lift a two-pound blanket when I wake up, so the thought of having to physically exert myself at daybreak is painful and somewhat ludicrous. But once I’ve had enough coffee, mornings don’t seem so bad after all.

Early mornings are different while still dark outside. During fall and spring morning rows, the water is reminiscent of glass, and when the sun rises, the sky looks like strawberries and cream.

Meanwhile, during the winter season, morning swims involve plunging into cold water (which hopefully makes up for the fact that I never actually completed my ALS ice bucket challenge.). When it’s 40 degrees outside, swimming sounds extremely unpleasant, but morning swims wake you up better than any cup of coffee.

Even though it may involve you getting an hour less of sleep, nothing makes you feel more accomplished than starting your day off with a workout (And sometimes as a reward, the cafeteria serves pancakes for breakfast. They are quite dank.).

Now, I’m not saying that I’d like to wake up at the first blush everyday. I mean, sleeping is, after all, one of my top 10 hobbies. But waking up early every once in a while to exercise can be a refreshing experience. So to all my fellow non-morning people, I ask you to give mornings a chance.