It’s back-to-school season, which means hot weather, hanging out with friends, more assignments than you can count and a backpack twice your bodyweight. No matter your grade, backpacks are necessary to survive the school year. Even if you won the locker lottery and were assigned a prime spot, it’s essential to strategize what goes inside your backpack for overall success this year.
Firstly, backpacks can be super fun! Part of improving your backpack experience is picking a design you like. Whether you prefer a more utilitarian black sports bag or a fun kids’ backpack for seniors celebrating their final year, choosing a look that fits your needs makes using your backpack all the more appealing.
I want to offer some tips on how to organize your backpack. Of course, you should have all the required materials from the syllabi your teachers hand out, but in my experience there are a few other reminders to note. Binders can be one of the most convenient ways to stay organized because you can store notes in the same place as worksheets and past tests instead of having a bunch of loose papers and missing assignments. Binders may be helpful but they tend to weigh your backpack down, so you should either combine subjects into one binder or keep a separate homework folder so that you don’t have to bring the whole binder home every day.
Planning is another way to stay on top of your work. Students tend to forget to use their Poly planner but I have found that they are the best way to accomplish this. A planner helps organize the countless materials from all of your classes and is a fantastic time management tool. I recommend keeping this handy resource in your backpack so you can fill it out at the end of every class with your homework and assessments. You should utilize this paper version of MyPoly’s Assignment Center, which gives you another place to corroborate your assignments if your teacher forgets to upload the directions.
When it comes to pencil cases, more is always better! Unless the pencil case is filled to the brim with markers, pens, or even hand sanitizer, you aren’t reaching its full potential.
A water bottle is also very important, no matter the weather, but especially during the hot summer months. Make sure to fill your water bottle frequently throughout the day, particularly if you have sports after school. They can also be an accessory to your backpack, either matching its color or aesthetic. Hydration is cool and fashionable, too!
Backpacks are an integral part of your school year, and making sure you have everything you need is a great way to start your school year on a good foot. As every student knows, staying on top of your work from the beginning prevents overwhelming yourself later on. Small steps like organizing your backpack will lead you to success starting now!
