Mindful Ink

With Lifehacker discussing the “Go Bag” a lot lately, it made me think about what people take in their backpacks to school.

Some students seem to have nothing with them but a notebook, while others carry mammoth behemoths on their backs - looking more snail than student. Some of this cannot be avoided. Many classes, science and math classes in particular, not only require you to bring the text with you - but the text is also huge. I swear my girlfriend’s Calculus book weighs like seven pounds, easy. Now, without going into the ethics of asking your students to drag books like this around a campus that may be a square mile or bigger - we shall discuss ways to keep you light as possible.

First things first, invest in a good bag. I know those bags at Wal-Mart are cheap, but they also break if you look at them funny. Do some research, you can find a good bag for under 50 bucks usually (and I can tell you from experience, these Swiss Army backpacks are amazing - but mostly quite big.) You need something no bigger than you need, light weight and comfortable as possible. I prefer a messenger bag (I use this Andrew Christian one - cheap and study, just order early, mine showed up about three weeks after it was supposed to), but finding a sturdy one can be tricky. Look for thick canvas, but still supple - and pay attention to how the clasps are attached. That’s what tends to break off.

 

Now, what to bring? Well, my bag, as you can see, isn’t terribly big. I’ve got 5 pockets to work with - two very small, two nice sized pockets, and then the main compartment (and a tiny zipper pocket within.) We have to break it down to essentials - you’ll be dragging this around all day.Now, I have a German class daily - it has a large book and we use it in class, so that has to come. My other classes, and I imagine many of yours as well, the book is optional. You may discuss the book, but largely it is lecture. You may need your book occasionally, or for certain topics, but generally - it can and should be left at home.

So, what else? Well, I bring my pendaflex folder. It’s small, unless I have a ton of things in it (which I never do), and does a great job protecting my assignments and miscellaneous papers. In here I have:

• Hard copies of all my classes syllabuses, documents I need to have with me, assignment sheets, etc.
• Some loose leaf paper - about 20 sheets
• Some blue books (about 3)
• Some scan-trons (about 3)
• And anything I have to turn in that day

The pentaflex works like a charm. If you want to keep binders for each subject, that’s fine, but keep them at home.I put my Macbook in a sleeve and stick it in - I take all my notes on this and can access all the assignments I’m working on. This the bulk of what I carry daily. As needed I may add one or two small books, and sometimes a book to read casually.

As to the front pockets. Well, in one goes a small pocket umbrella and usually some trail mix or granola bars. I also tend to keep some pens in here. There are days when I just don’t have time to stop and eat. The other goes my index card case, where I keep German flashcards. The two side pockets? One a large water bottle fits snuggly in. If you’re the thirsty type, bringing an insulated water bottle like this will save you a lot of money. Stop in at the campus canteen to refill it when you need to. It’s almost always free. The other goes my glasses case with some sunglasses and usually some sort of gum.

And sometimes, just sometimes, if I know I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands and don’t have much to study - I bring my PSP.And that’s it. My bag is rarely huge and unwieldy.

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