Morning Fuel: Why Caffeine Still Runs the Campus

By Kayla Milhon
Staff writer
IG: kaylaa.ml_

Let’s be honest — most college students don’t wake up at 7 a.m. feeling naturally energized. That first drink? It matters. A lot.

For Riley Waltner, a freshman at Hutchinson Community College, it’s usually orange juice. If there’s a Red Bull around, though, that’s the move. It tastes good, and more importantly, it actually gives that boost to start the day. The energy part is important. Most of the time it’s just store-bought and prepackaged — nothing fancy, nothing homemade. Just grab it and go. 

Orange juice feels like the healthier option, but Red Bull gets the job done with caffeine. If neither is an option? Black coffee works.

Then there’s Auburne Katz, a pre-law freshman from Turon, who keeps it pretty consistent. First thing in the morning, it’s water. Always. After that, an Alani energy drink. Why? Water is necessary — people have to have it. And the Alani? It’s flavorful and gives energy. Same routine most mornings.

Katz even admits the energy boost might partly be a mind game. If you know there’s caffeine in it, you feel like it’s working. Still, that caffeine kick helps when you’ve got classes, assignments, and everything else going on.

Caffeine isn’t always simple, though. Katz was once told to quit consuming caffeine because of a heart issue. She stopped for a few months, but eventually went back to it. That says a lot about how normal caffeine has become in daily life. It’s not just about staying awake — it’s habit, routine, and honestly, part of the culture.

Weekends look a little different. Katz doesn’t drink hers until the afternoon. But during the week? It’s part of the morning schedule.

At the end of the day, caffeine on campus isn’t complicated. It tastes good. It gives energy. And when you’ve got places to be and things to do, that’s enough reason for most of us.

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