It all started in the eighth grade with a sip from my mom’s cup.  What seemed to be an innocent taste escalated to wanting more and more.  It was slow getting into it, but once I started, I could not stop.  I would drink cups and cups a day, and now it is hard to make it through my day without it.  Coffee.  Coffee has overtaken my life.

When I started drinking coffee, I never imagined I would end up drinking it every day, and sometimes more than once.  When I wake up in the morning, one of the first things I do is make coffee for my mom and myself.

Mornings can be hard when you’ve been staying up late to do homework.  Many students feel as though they need coffee to get them up and about in the morning.

“Coffee gives me energy and wakes me up,” said sophomore Ian Gennari.

A day without coffee is like a week without sunshine.  Most feel sluggish and moody without something to jumpstart the day.  Some would even say that not having coffee alters their mood.

“Yes, I would say that I am addicted to it, because I started drinking it at a young age,” said freshman Emily Gaillard.  “I’ve been relying on it for a while now and it does affect my mood when I don’t have it.”

I used to think that I did not have an issue with drinking coffee, but it wasn’t until recently that it occurred to me how dependent I actually am.  I tried to go a week without coffee and some days were okay, but other days I would be falling asleep by second period.  Some people can stop drinking coffee whenever they want while others really need it to carry on their day.

“I do not feel like I need coffee to get through my day, but it definitely helps,” said junior Lauren Settle.  “It gives me a nice boost in the morning and has a taste no other drink has.”

Coffee is different from other drinks.  There are so many flavors to choose from and you can really make it your own.  You can have it decaf or not, black, full of cream and or sugar — it is all up to personal preference.

Another thing coffee is great for, especially if it is caffeinated, is the boost of energy it provides.

“Coffee gives you more energy, but it is not a rush like an energy drink,” said Starbucks worker Thomas Nordskog.

I would not say I am actually addicted to coffee; it has just become a habit of trying new flavored beans and drinking it.  Once one starts doing something nearly every day, it is hard to just stop.   I feel like some days it is easy to function completely fine without coffee, but other days it is what helps one survive the day and others agree.

“I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 15,” said junior Meredith Bunting.  “I have it at least once every day because I have become accustomed to drinking it every day.  I enjoy the taste and like the extra kickstart coffee gives you especially in the morning.”

Most people who drink coffee have it almost every morning.  One of the biggest issues of drinking coffee everyday if you do not make it at home is the expense.  While some spend little to no money on coffee, to others it comes with a large cost.

“I drink coffee almost every day and started drinking it when I was four years old,” said junior Katelyn Sisk.  “Sometimes I will make my own, but most days I’ll go to either Starbucks and pay $5 for a cup or I’ll go to McDonald’s and pay $1.  I’d say I spend at least $40 or $50 a month on coffee.”

Regardless of if one drinks it every day or not, I think most people can agree that it helps making waking up easier and mornings just a bit more enjoyable.

“I don’t think that I need coffee to get through my day, but it is very nice to have to start the day off,” said West Forsyth junior Nathan Kotas.  “Coffee helps me with energy and makes my mornings more relaxing.”