By Kailyn Huynh
The pinnacle feature of every elementary, middle or highschool student is one thing: the backpack. Or at least it has been since the 1980s when, according to the Time, “student backpacks were fully integrated into the checklist of necessary school supplies.”
Recently, however, some people have been making the shift away from this practical bag to more stylish alternatives. Here are some of the different items that Fountain Valley students use to hold their school materials.
Many forms of tote bags can be seen around the Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) campus, with classic styles made of a typical canvas or leather material, as pictured below.
Sophomore Joelle Bell (above) made the switch to a tote bag after the zipper on her regular backpack broke. She prefers the tote as it is more convenient, without the hassle of having to unzip her bag every time she needs something.
Some also carry totes with unique patterns, such as the leopard print bag which accompanies senior Jaylynn Olson (below).
Longchamp is one popular brand of tote bags which can be seen around the Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) campus. Junior Diane Vuong (below) carries the Longchamp Le Pliage bag in beige.
Senior Emily Van (below, floral tote) commented on how being in her final year of high school has impacted her decision to wear a tote bag.
“As a senior, I don’t actually carry a lot of stuff, so I feel like a tote bag fits everything that I need, and then it’s also cute,” Van said.
Senior Samantha Gomez, who uses a Lululemon bag, seconded that opinion and also added on about the technical aspects of carrying a tote.
“I just found it more convenient and I felt like my back would hurt ten times more carrying a big backpack, especially when I was carrying my computer. [The tote bag] was just easier and it has nice compartments,” Gomez said.
Other students have also utilized purses as a way of carrying their items.
In the image above, the student with the red purse explained how using a smaller bag helped her to avoid carrying unneccessary items, focusing on the things that she truly needed.
On the other hand, these different bags can also offer extra space. Instead of using it as a backpack replacement, sophomore Matthew Lai carries his Paul Frank bag to account for the limited storage his typical backpack has.
“My backpack is smaller than usual so I like carrying a bag. I think I also like it because it’s a bit more stylish than just having a single bag,” Lai said.
Style is definitely a factor which some Barons consider in using alternative bags. Junior Tessa Luong (below) prefers her YesStyle tote because of its cute appearance.
“I decided to wear a tote bag because I wanted to decorate it with keychains and stuff like plushies,” Luong said. (See more on backpack plushies here)
“I like it because it feels like it gives me personality when I’m walking… It’s a good way to express yourself, but it’s definitely not convenient for people who have a lot of things they need to carry at school,” Luong said.
Conclusion
No matter what bag you decide to use, one important thing to consider is comfort. Single-strapped bags can easily cause pain if too much weight is being distributed onto one side of your body, so take precautions by making sure that you are not harming the health of your shoulders or back.
Otherwise, have fun in discovering the many different types of bags are available!
