WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK

One of my favorite parts of going back to school every year is the back-to-school content. YouTube videos, TikToks, Instagram posts, Snapchat stories: I eat these posts up every year! I tend to watch these videos for a couple of months after school has started for inspiration after settling back into living on campus. One of my all-time top picks when viewing back-to-school content is the classic “What’s in my bag.” So, I figured… why not make my own? 

I have been using the same backpack since freshman year of high school. It’s a classic black JanSport backpack, and it has truly served me well. It has three main sections, with most of my school materials being in the big pocket and my more personal items in the front and middle pockets. 

Front Pocket 

Airpods/Earbuds: I always carry my AirPods on me for listening to music while walking to class or to watch whatever current TV show I’m watching during meals. I also recently just bought earbuds with wires to permanently have in my backpack in case my AirPods die or to use for my Spanish quizzes.  

Little Mirror: I used to use my phone camera for quick check-ups throughout the day. But I find that I much prefer looking in an actual mirror specifically when reapplying my lip products.  

Lip Products: My favorite moisturizing lip products are the Vaseline or Aquaphor lip balms that are in squeeze-tube packaging. For some color, my go-to lip liner is the NYX lip pencil in the shade “Natural”, and my daily lip gloss is always the Elf gloss in the shade “Jam Session.” 

Keys: This is self-explanatory, but I also put my house key and the key to get into my apartment building in this pocket. For easy access, I keep them on a WV lanyard, so I don’t have to dig around for them in my bag.  

Middle pocket 

Wallet: Even when I tell myself I’m going to walk home in between classes and eat, I often end up buying food in the Lair. I’ve learned to always carry my wallet on me, even when I think I won’t need it. 

Lotion: This is especially important to have in your bag during the winter months. Nobody wants to have dry, cracked hands that bug you while you’re out. 

Hand Sanitizer: I love WVU, but it can be musty sometimes, as are most colleges. It’s important to keep your hands as germ-free as possible, so you don’t catch whatever current illness is on the move. 

Floss Sticks: I know we all hate the feeling of food being in our teeth. After eating a spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A, I’m almost guaranteed to have chicken somewhere in there. Floss sticks are the easiest and quickest way to fix this problem. 

Band-Aids: These are a little less important, but I keep them in my backpack just in case.  

Big pocket 

Computer: One of the most important items in my backpack is my computer. I take it everywhere because not only do I use it for academic purposes, but also simply for entertainment. 

Notebooks: I keep a few notebooks in my bag: one for my Spanish class, one for my communication class and one for whatever personal things I need to remember to complete. 

Folder: A couple of my classes this year have a lot of handout papers. Instead of just shoving them in my backpack and hoping I don’t ruin them, I decided to actually get a folder this year. 

Pencil Bag: My pencil bag is my pride and joy. I keep pencils, pens, different-colored highlighters, my WVU binder clip and a glue stick (just in case). 

Water Bottle: I’ve never been a big water drinker, but I’m trying to be better! I’ve started to consistently bring water to class in an Owala water bottle. 

Accessories 

I don’t have many accessories on my backpack, but I do have a pink Her Campus pin on my front pocket, along with a little bee keychain! 

Hopefully this gives you some inspiration for what to store in your backpack! I add things every so often, but these are items I keep in it consistently.  

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