![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
Approximately 90 percent of American adults consume caffeine every day, most commonly through coffee, the American Heart Association states. Teenagers are no different, according to Medical News Today, with over 83 percent of teenagers consuming caffeine regularly.
Even though a majority of the United States consumes some form of caffeine, the reason behind America’s caffeine consumption remains a mystery. Oftentimes, the heavy caffeine culture seemingly leads people to drink caffeine.
“My grandmother, when I was five, would always let me drink the last little bit of her cold black coffee. Every time I would ask, she would give me a drink…and eventually I just came to like it,” senior Mitchell Anderson said. “And then it just spiraled from there and I started trying energy drinks my parents would drink or [energy drinks] my friends [would drink].”
Many other students seemed to have similar stories for their introduction to caffeine.
“I saw my dad drinking it [coffee]…so I tried it, and at first I didn’t like it,” senior Mia Koka said. “I thought it was horrible. But as I got an acquired taste, that’s when I started liking it. Then I realized it gave me energy, so I [thought] I need this even more.”
Students have reportedly shifted from coffee to energy drinks at some point through their high school career.
“I think a lot of the time I just drink caffeine because I enjoy the taste of the [energy] drinks,” Anderson said. “I only drink certain flavors that I enjoy, rather than trying all of them or trying different brands [of energy drinks]. I just enjoy the taste.”
Many students at Ankeny High School (AHS) feel the same way, however, others think that the heavy load of schoolwork students often have contribute to their caffeine intake.
“If I know I have a bunch of homework, and I need to be locked in, I immediately think time to go get a drink, and get some matcha,” Gade said.
Along with that, some feel that the structure of the school heavily contributes to the amount of caffeine they drink, and a shift in the school schedule could cut their intake.
“I feel like if I had more time throughout my day to do things that I enjoy, not just school work or studying, I feel like that would cut out [caffeine],” Koka said.
Another reason students say that they drink caffeine is due to the amount of work they have to balance between school and extracurricular activities.
“If people have extracurriculars, they’re trying to do that and a bunch of homework. There’s not enough time,” Anderson said.
Students say that balancing homework and extracurriculars often leads to doing homework at night, and, because of the late time, they often consume caffeine in order to stay awake.
“I would say that it’s [homework] the only reason I would consume caffeine at night,” Koka said. “There has never been a situation where I would need caffeine unless it’s a school related event or it’s…school work,” Koka said.
Students say that they would cut their caffeine intake, but first, certain things would have to change.
“I feel like just trying to find easier ways to not get caffeine into kids, [would be to] get kids to have more time to sleep and rest… and not have to rely on energy drinks,” Anderson said.
