I've never had to (consistently) get up for a job as early as I did for high school. And that's despite a 5-minute commute for high school, versus at times a 40-minute (one way) commute for work.

Actually, in general, high school was the most demanding part of my life, so far as long stretches of time go (sure, I've had the odd week or month that's worse). And I was a pretty bad slacker about things like homework (given the time demands even with that lax attitude, I think I'd have gone actually-crazy otherwise).

Middle-aged now. Nothing's been as rough as high school, or even close. And I had it pretty easy (no significant bullying issues or anything like that, stable home life)

I had a similar story. My day in High School was from 7:28 AM to 2:08pm. Getting up to go to school wasn't a huge deal for me, but I did love having so much time after school to play a sport, hang with friends, etc. and still have plenty of time to get my (way less than kids seem to get nowadays) homework done.

I'm conflicted on this, mostly because that after school time was very valuable to me, much more than being able to sleep in a little more. This was extra true in the winter, when the sun set by 5pm. I also recognize that not everyone to be as easily up and awake that early in the day.