Hello fellow Bears and welcome back to the blog, I really can’t believe that it’s already the fifth week of school. However, I’m starting to get used to my schedule as the days go by and I’m enjoying the new amenities that have been added to the campus. Even though this is my fifth year as a student at Missouri State I’m always changing the way that I do things or just what I carry along with me. I always have my backpack with me because I’m usually going to work, classes, or prepping to study somewhere. For this specific blog post, I wanted to share my backpack essentials and why I carry those items. 

Backpack Essentials

Loose Leaf paper

You never know when you need to write down some information or just if you want to take some time to doodle to relieve some stress. 

Pencil Case

My pencil case holds my writing utensils, paper clips, sharpener, and calculator. Being a student means that you should always have something to write with so having my pencil case handy helps keep me on track.  

Planner

If you use a planner, you’ll definitely want to carry one with you around campus, so that you can update it and check your upcoming assignments whenever you need to. If you don’t use a planner already, you should! Planners help you stay organized, help make sure you won’t forget something important, help you stay motivated, and can reduce stress. I wasn’t really a planner person to begin with but the semester can get a little crazy so I opted to get one. If you need a planner, stop by the CAST office at Meyer Library 116 for a free planner.

Mini First Aid Kit

Accidents can happen anytime but I also can be a little clumsy, so I like to keep a first aid kit in my backpack. The kit has cleansing wipes, band-aids, and gauze just in case something pops up. Tons of people get paper cuts, blisters, and all sorts of little injuries so I like having the kit to not only help myself but potentially other people. 

Toiletries

Walking around campus can make you really hot and uncomfortable so I make sure to keep extra products in my bag like deodorant, lotion, gum, and a light perfume. You won’t believe how having things like this can really change your life because anything can happen

Lysol Wipes

I haven’t completely let my guard down in relation to the pandemic so I wipe down surfaces that I use at work and sometimes where I sit in my classes. Even if the pandemic didn’t happen this is always a good item to have just to get rid of germs and make you feel safer in particular spaces. 

Hand Sanitizer

I quickly realized that I touch a lot of surfaces on campus and just to keep myself safe and healthy, my hand sanitizer travels with me.  

Headache Medication

Being a college student does bring occasional stress, so I like to keep headache medicine in my bag just in case I get a migraine. 

Water Bottle

It helps to stay hydrated and just have access to your own drinks so carrying a water bottle is a great essential, especially for long commutes around campus. The campus is equipped with traditional water fountains and water bottle filling stations so getting a drink around campus is easier. 

Takeaways 

One thing that I’ve learned throughout the past year is that you can’t always be ready for everything, but it doesn’t hurt to have access to a few things. My backpack essentials are definitely going to be different in comparison to someone else but it’s always good to share just in case you want to add something to your bag to make life easier. All of the essentials that I carry have been used in some capacity, so I’ll continue to carry them throughout the semester.  

I’m going to leave you with this quote by Israelmore Ayivor: 

“Preparation is the key to leadership success. The more prepared you are the less your struggle…” 

~ Alexandria 

(Bio: I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a senior business major at Missouri State University.)