I can’t go a single day at Homewood without seeing someone carrying the Longchamp and Owala combo, and unfortunately I am one of them. The contents of my bag are probably also pretty typical, but it's not the items themselves that make my bag personal; it’s the stories attached to them.
1. The bag itself: This navy Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote bag has been around longer than I have, always faithfully draped over my mom’s shoulder on every errand, vacation and doctor’s appointment. Using that very bag now for college feels almost surreal; I spent my childhood watching it follow my mom through so much of her adult life, and now it follows me as I begin mine. The frayed corners and the worn leather straps make me feel as though she’s right here with me. Carrying my mom’s bag each day has become a way of keeping her close while she’s more than 3,000 miles away.
2. HeyTea laptop sleeve: I never used a laptop sleeve before, but apparently all it took was a free one to change that. Over the summer, my best friend and I woke up at six in the morning and drove 30 minutes to the grand opening of the HeyTea in my hometown. The result? This free white puffy laptop sleeve, which now houses my Mac.
3. My iPad: a non-negotiable for notes and schoolwork. My 30-hour GoodNotes screen time each week can probably speak for itself.
4. My Owala: an investment made by my 10th-grade self. The scratches and dents are evidence of all the highs and lows we’ve been through together. It's become my emotional support water bottle, even though it’s gotten a little wobbly on its feet after all these years.
5. My Sony headphones: a gift from my dad from one of his many business trips abroad. These headphones have accompanied me on every plane ride, workout and study session since. I am the student I am today because of noise-cancelling. Thank you, Dad.
6. Mentholatum Melty Cream Lip Balm: basically Japanese Aquaphor.
7. A banana clip: a hair accessory I recently discovered that has quickly become my favorite. It’s not quite a claw clip, but it works perfectly with my thin hair. It lets me put my hair up and out of my face while I’m working without the headache-inducing tightness of a ponytail.
8. Blue-light glasses: spoiler alert: I have 20/20 vision, but I like wearing glasses, so it’s me and my $12 blue-light glasses from Amazon against the world. After all, I need to protect my eyes somehow from the absurd amount of time I spend on GoodNotes every week.
9. Mini portable fan: the most recent addition to my bag. Baltimore’s end-of-summer humidity has been a rude awakening for me. I’m never taking Cali weather for granted again.
10. An Omamori: a protective amulet from my senior trip to Tokyo. Knowing this little amulet is in my bag feels like I’m carrying a bit of good luck wherever I go. It reminds me to trust that everything will work out, even when I’m far from home and still figuring things out for myself.
Reflecting on the long-term residents of my bag left me feeling oddly nostalgic and homesick and, in a way, gave me a better understanding of myself. I never really gave much thought to why I carry these things beyond what they’re designed to do, but I’ve realized that each one has its own story and is, in some way, uniquely meaningful to me. Together, they represent the people, places and moments that have shaped who I am. Of course, I have been warned about using a shoulder bag for college, but I’ll check back at the end of the semester, hopefully still with symmetrical shoulders and no back problems.
