Backpacks, totes, purses, laptop cases. The list can go on and on about how students carry their essentials around at college. Essentials that students carry around in their bags vary for each student. After talking to students about what they carry in their backpacks and what they consider to be essential, I have come up with a list of 15 must haves to always have in your bag.
1. Agendas are your life, no matter what stage of life you are in, you will need an agenda to keep track of all the dates, appointments, notes and contacts that you need in order to stay calm and organized. It can be stylish or plain, the choice is yours.
2. Sticky Notes are a good item to always have in your bag as you may need to write a list or note in an instant. These are handy and small so they stick and fit in even the smallest pockets.
3.Gum helps you focus, reduces food cravings, and helps with bad breath. Small, compact, and fits in any pocket.
4.Water bottles keep you hydrated and focused throughout the day. They are inexpensive and come in a variety of shapes and colors.
5. Deodorant. Now I know no one wants to admit that they can get a little smelly when the weather is muggy and hot or maybe you wore too many layers on a warm day in the fall. But let’s face it, we all get sweaty. Instead of feeling embarrassed, just have a travel sized deodorant in your bag in case it happens to you. They are cheap and small so no one will accidentally see it.
6. Pens. You need them to write thoughts, notes, appointments or random things down. And you always seem to need them when you can’t find them. You buy a pack of 20 pens for the first day of classes and by the third day you have five survivors. Just make sure you have one and maybe hide it so when you really need one there will be one there for you.
7. and 8. I am going to lump these next two items together because they go hand in hand. Emergency kits and Tampons/ Pads are two must haves in a backpack. Their purpose is for emergencies which happen when we least expect it and are handy to have when life is so unpredictable.
9.Phone Charger. For that one time you end up using your phone so much that you drain your battery three times faster than usual, you’re waiting for a class BAM! It dies, now what do you do? Pull out your extra phone charger and charge it up. Comes in handy for those one in a million times your phone dies when you weren’t prepared for.
10.Umbrella. For when it rains randomly and you have nothing but a dress and non waterproof shoes on. Doesn’t have to be a big one, just a small compact one made for two.
11.Cash. Ever really hungry and you realize you have no money on you? Storing a dollar or two in your backpack secret compartment is really handy for those times or emergencies.
12.USB Flash Drive. Now I don’t know how much I actually agree with this one but if you are like me and have a million flash drives then by all means keep an extra one in your bag for those moments you use a desktop in a computer lab and need to save your work. Just don’t lose it cause then you will lose all your work and have a minor panic attack to have to do that homework all over again.
13.Hand Sanitizer/ Lotion. For when your hands get dry, you touch a doorknob a million other students have touched and its Flu season carrying around a small germex or other brand sanitizer is always a good idea. Now they actually have both in one which comes in hand for space and efficiency.
