Spring ahead, fall back - except for Arizonans.
At 2 a.m. Sunday, clocks around the nation will be set ahead by one hour, which means students in Arizona will have to adjust their mental clock when calling a different time zone.
For most of the country, spring is when the world changes its clocks to daylight-saving time from standard time, according to a Web site sponsored by the National Institute for Standards and Technology.
Daylight-saving time, or "summer time," in many parts of the world was adopted to "make better use of daylight," the Web site stated. "We change our clocks during the summer months to move and hour of daylight from the morning to the evening."
Many states observed their own versions of daylight-saving time, making travel and the nation's timekeeper's job confusing, until Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, according to the site.
The Uniform Time Act established a system that made daylight-saving time consistent throughout the country, and states wishing to be exempt would have to pass a separate state law, the site stated.
In addition to Arizona, residents of Indiana and Hawaii also abstain from changing their clocks in April and October. U.S. territories that keep consistent time include American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
While most of Arizona does not observe daylight-saving time, the area that is inhabited by the Navajo Indian Reservation does, the site said, because of "its large size and location in three states."
Although Arizona does not change times throughout the year, many students are from different states.
Joe Peraino, a sophomore majoring in English, is from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Peraino said he likes that Arizona does not adjust time to daylight-saving time because it is unique.
"It's kind of weird that Arizona doesn't change times like everyone else, but I think it's easier to live here because you don't have to switch," Peraino said.
The West Coast is unique because during daylight-saving time, Arizona has the same time as the Pacific Standard Time zone. During standard time, Arizona is considered part of the Mountain Standard Time, according to the site.
Students from the West Coast only have a time discrepancy for half the year.
Californian, Jessie Downey, a Judaic Studies sophomore, said she thinks Arizona's consistent time is strange and bewildering.
"It's incredibly annoying that Arizona doesn't change," Downey said, "I can never remember what time it is in other places, and we are just one state away. I don't see why Arizona has to be different."
Traveling outside Arizona can be confusing for some because the time difference depends on whether the nation is on standard time or daylight-saving time, Peraino said.
Downey, who usually travels to California, said going home during standard time is more convenient than anything.
"Going home doesn't affect me that much, but it's really nice to gain an hour when I go back to California," Downey said. "Then it goes back to annoying when I lose an hour coming back here."
When he travels from Florida back to Arizona, Peraino said he to be ahead in time.
"When I come here from Florida I gain a few hours when I change time zones," Peraino said. "It's like I've been given the gift of time."