Back-to-School Essentials
Summer's officially over, and now it's back-to-school season. Now comes the question: What do you need to bring on the first day? While it's tempting to shove every notebook, binder, pen, and gadget you own in your backpack, you probably won't need all of those supplies, and they'll only weigh you down. So, to save you from sore shoulders, here are 10 school essentials you’ll actually need on day one—and 10 you can go without.
1. Backpack
Sure, even though you might not be doing too much on your first day back to school, it's still best to bring a backpack with you to carry all your essentials and the handouts you'll get. If you show up with just a pencil, you'll be carrying a lot of stuff home in your arms.
2. Notebooks
You don't want to be empty-handed and unprepared when your teacher tells you to jot some notes down. Even if lessons don't typically start on the first day, there might be other important details you'll want to keep recorded, so make sure to always bring along a notebook or some loose-leaf paper.
3. Binders
Remember to bring some binders along as well so you can keep your subjects separated and organized. You can also choose to take folders with you instead, although it'll still be easier to have all your notes in one place than in individual sleeves.
4. Pens & Pencils
It should go without saying that you'll definitely want to bring something to write with on your first day. Unless you're planning to bring your laptop or tablet along, in which case you might get away with jotting your notes down digitally, pens and pencils are absolute musts for school.
5. Planner or Agenda
If your school doesn't supply you with a planner or agenda, it's a good idea to buy your own. You might think you'll be able to keep organized, but as your semester gets more and more busy, you may start to slack off and become forgetful. Having a planner ensures you always stay on top of your tasks and subjects.
6. Laptop or Tablet
As mentioned previously, if you're willing to risk forgoing pens and pencils on your first day, then you'll definitely need to bring a laptop or tablet along for you to jot down notes. Again, don't just assume you won't need to write anything down because it's the first day back to class—there might still be important information you'll want to keep recorded.
7. Snacks & Lunch
Unless you know for sure you only have a class or two and not a full day, make sure to bring along some snacks to munch on and a healthy, filling lunch. Food is fuel, and you'll need the energy to make it through your first day back.
8. Water Bottle
You'll also want to keep well-hydrated on your first day! Bring a water bottle with you and fill it up with water, tea, coffee, juice, or your favorite beverage of choice. Being dehydrated will only leave you feeling lightheaded and groggy, which will not do you any favors on your first day back.
9. Umbrella & Proper Attire
Yup: even if it's guaranteed to be sunny out, bring an umbrella with you just in case, especially if your school is far from home. The weather can change wildly, so you'll always want to be prepared. Make sure to also wear proper attire, which might mean a raincoat or a light jacket over your first-day outfit.
10. Positive Attitude
Last but not least, you'll want to bring a positive attitude with you on your first day! While it's understandable that it can be stressful to go back to school, you'll have a better time if you stay bright and optimistic. So, go out there and greet your old friends—or make new ones!
Now that you know what you'll need on the first day back, what are some things you can go without? Let's jump into that next.
1. Textbooks
Perhaps you've done your research and you already know which textbooks you'll be needing for each class. Even then, you don't need to bring them on the first day; all that extra weight will only drag you down. Unless specified by your teachers, they typically assume that students haven't gotten the chance to purchase their books yet, so it's fine to leave them at home for the first day.
2. Binder for Every Class
While you might want to bring one binder to keep your subjects organized, you don't need to bring multiple—or worse, a binder for each class. Considering how heavy and bulky binders are, you'll only be making it inconvenient for yourself to carry all that extra weight.
(Augustin-Foto) Jonas Augustin on Unsplash
3. Calculator
Even if you have math on the first day, your teachers probably don't expect that you have a graphing calculator or the exact type needed for that class ready. Until you see what's specified on your syllabus, it's fine to bring a basic scientific one, or none at all. In the case where you're without one and you do need it, your teachers will likely have spares for students to use.
4. Entire Pencil Box
You'll definitely want to bring some pens and pencils on your first day, but don't throw your entire pencil box in your backpack. You probably don't need all 12 colors of your gel pens, felts, and highlighters, and unless you know you'll be doing art on the first day, you can leave your colored pencils at home, too.
5. Specialized Supplies
Chemistry lab coats and goggles, math supplies, art canvases and brushes... You probably don't need all this specialized equipment on the first day. Again, unless it's directly specified by your teachers to be ready with these supplies from the get-go, it's fine to leave them at home.
6. Locker Decor
We know: it's always exciting to decorate your locker whenever it's back-to-school season. But you probably shouldn't lug around all your accessories and decor on your first day, especially if you're not sure whether lockers will be assigned right away. Leave your fancy equipment at home until you've settled in.
7. Big Headphones
We get it: sometimes you're so unenthusiastic about going back to school that you just want to tune everyone out. But in doing that, you're only setting yourself up for a bad day (and year). Plus, big over-ear headphones are not only usually heavy but will also take up a lot of space in your backpack—space you'll probably need for other supplies.
8. Too Many Snacks
You'll definitely want to bring a few snacks and a full lunch, but you don't need to bring your whole pantry. Keep in mind, too, that some teachers might not allow you to eat in their class, so unless you have plenty of breaks scheduled throughout your day, you probably won't have the time to munch on everything you bring, anyway.
9. A Change of Clothes
Unless you have gym class on the first day, you don't need to bring a change of clothes. Or, well, unless you're afraid the weather might suddenly do a 180 on you, and your outfit of the day leaves you wholly unprepared. But still—check the forecast before you get ready in the morning, and leave the extra set of clothes at home.
10. Pessimistic Attitude
As mentioned, if you show up to your first day back with a pessimistic attitude and don't-talk-to-me energy, you're not setting yourself up for a good day. It's sad that summer is over and it's already back to school time, but think optimistically: you get to see all your friends again, you get to learn more, and you get to meet new people. So show up on your first day with a big smile!
