School is starting soon for a lot of places. Many high schools have started or are starting this week, and colleges are not far behind. I’m entering my senior year of college, so hopefully by now I have figured some things out.

What I want to do today is unpack my backpack, similar to showing you what was in my suitcase for vacation. As usual, I tend to be pretty prepared for things. I keep quite a bit in my backpack, and you may not need as much as I do, but I want to share with you what’s in my backpack. Whether you’re in middle school, high school, college, or working a full-time job, maybe you can find something you might need! Let’s open my backpack and see what’s inside!

• Books/notebooks- This is the obvious one! I keep the books and notebooks I need for each day’s classes. Being prepared for classes helps me to do better in them. So make sure you are prepared and have your books and notebooks with you.
• Laptop- If I need my laptop, I keep it with me. I use a Swiss Gear backpack that has a lot of pockets, including a laptop pocket. My laptop stays in its sleeve in that pocket.
• Headphones- You never know when you’ll need them. I keep a rather cheap pair in my backpack. If you prefer earphones (they take up less space), then that’s cool too. There have been times where class ends early and I have some time to kill. Rather than being rude and obnoxious by blaring music or a show, my headphones have come in handy in more ways than one.
• Notebook paper- I keep a binder of notebook paper in one of the pockets of my backpack. There have been lots of times where a professor or teacher has said we needed to turn something in. I have also had classmates need paper to take notes (because they don’t have their notebooks). This way, I don’t have to lose paper in my notebooks.
• Pens/pencils- I keep a little case of pens and pencils in the front pocket of my backpack. It’s useful all the time. Then I don’t have to worry that I have a writing utensil with me.
• Small notebook- I have tried just about every form of planner and agenda. I can keep them for a few weeks at a time, and then I get off track. I keep a small notebook with me that way I can put in ideas, assignments, and other small projects that I think of quickly.
• Tissues- I try to keep a small pack of tissues in my backpack, for sneezes or anything else.
• Gum- I keep a pack of gum in my backpack. I love chewing gum, and it’s in constant demand for me.
• Chapstick- Chapstick is pretty important. It doesn’t take up a lot of room, and I use it all the time.
• Hand sanitizer and lotion- Again, they don’t take up a lot of room, and I use them a lot. I’ve had many people ask if someone has lotion, and it’s great when I offer that for them.
• Umbrella- I have two side pockets in my backpack. One of them is occupied by my umbrella. It’s a small, portable one. I live and go to school in Indiana, the weather here is unpredictable. I have been caught many times without a jacket. The umbrella gives me some protection.
• Water bottle- This is probably the second most important thing in my backpack besides my books/notebooks. I take my water bottle pretty much everywhere. I’ll fill it up in the morning at my apartment, slip it into my other side pocket, and be on my way. It’s at an easy reach for when I am walking to or sitting in class.
• Lastly, (this is pretty specific to just me): pocket Constitution- So Ball State celebrates Constitution Day (September 17) by handing put pocket Constitutions. I keep one in my backpack. As a history major, it has actually come in handy pretty often.

That’s my backpack! As you head back to school or continue your work, I hope you take account of the things you keep with you all the time and work it out to what you need. I hope you learned something!