My college Spanish professor swore he didn't need an alarm clock to wake up at the right time every morning, and he made fun of we Americans who were so dependent upon a mechanical thing when we all showed up late after a power outage. I've always hated being late for anything and I actually have not one but three alarm clocks in my bedroom. This acrylic beauty is sleek yet unobtrusive . . . and a necessity for students of all ages, I still believe.