From phone chargers to emergency ponchos, what should really go in your campus bag? Figuring out what is important enough to take with you every day to campus can be frustrating. It is truly the simplest of items that can make or break your day, whether you forgot it or just omitted it from your bag. Packing for lectures is slightly different than packing a school bag, so welcome to PDBY’s guide on what to put in your campus bag.
Step one is the most obvious: the bag. You need to use it every day, so it is important to determine what kind of bag is the right fit for you. Are you going to be trendy and only carry a tote bag? You might even want a sleek hidden zip backpack, or you could take a page out of young Sheldon’s book, and rock the briefcase look. Different bags will serve different people, so find the one that works best for you. The size and space of the bag will also influence how much you can take with you to campus.
After the bag comes the basics. Having a notebook or exam pad, as well as something containing your stationery, is very useful in your day-to-day campus life. Whether or not you use a laptop or iPad during lectures, having a pen and paper will always come in handy. You never know when a spot test or the need to write down something important will arise. Other basics to always keep in the bag are your chargers. Phone chargers, laptop chargers, headphone chargers, you name it. They can be an actual lifesaver. Once your laptop dies ten minutes into a two-hour lecture, I promise you that you will never forget your charger again.
Pretoria weather has a mind of its own. The summers are hot and humid, and the sun beats down its high temperatures from early in the morning, so keeping hydrated is important. Buying water everyday can become costly, so keeping a reusable water bottle in your bag is a good way to stay hydrated for free. Make use of the various water fountains throughout campus that are designed to fill up your bottles. As hot as a Hatfield summer can be, it can be equally as wet. Carrying either an umbrella or an emergency poncho will save you from falling prey to the downpour. The saying “when it rains, it pours” was clearly written about the Hatfield rains. These hot sunny days can turn into miserable stormy afternoons in mere minutes, so it is better to be prepared.
So far, the bag has stationery, chargers, a water bottle, and an umbrella. Now comes the cannot-live-without, absolutely vital section. This varies from person to person. Some people might always need chewing gum, while others might not be able to function without their headphones. Maybe you need to keep a novel close by for those breaks in between lectures. If you commute to campus every day in your car, keeping cash handy for the car guards will be important to remember. For the students who have to walk from private accommodations or residences daily, it might be a good idea to keep pepper spray on you as a safety measure. This too can be stored in your campus bag during the day. Perhaps keeping a packet of trail mix in your bag is perfect for a mid-afternoon snack.
Throughout O-Week and the first few weeks of class, you will easily be able to determine what is necessary for you to pack. A baptism by fire of sorts. The items mentioned here are merely suggestions to help you get started. Once you begin to experience campus life and all that university has to offer, knowing what to put in your bag will become second nature. In the words of the fierce and feisty Chappell Roan, “Good luck, babe!”
