Every year, the senior class has the opportunity to participate in a nostalgic tradition, including creative backpacks. Some seniors have chosen to buy childhood backpacks with superheroes, cartoon characters or Disney princesses, while others take a more creative route and paint their own, often including their names. This tradition allows the seniors to reflect on their childhood while celebrating their final year of high school. While not required, many seniors decided to participate in this nostalgic tradition. Senior Murray Ellington was one of many who chose to take part.

“I chose a Minecraft backpack. It features Minecraft figures and lights up in the back. Minecraft is a game I’ve played since I was four years old,” Ellington said.

Many seniors chose to buy backpacks from old video games they used to play, often with fun features included. While some students chose to buy pre-made backpacks, other seniors opt to design their own.

“My senior backpack is a light pink Jansport bag that matches all my friends,” senior Clara York said. “My friends and I wanted to do more of a matching look over the kids bags for cute pictures on the first day. We all got the same brand bag in different colors and we put something on it that represents our personality. I chose to put a bow on mine because I have always loved bows since I was little since I’ve always been a girly girl.”

This tradition has lasted for several years, and it is just a fun activity to do with their senior class. It brings them together to celebrate their final year with each other, whether they have been in the same class for 14 years or for two.

“I chose a pink sequin Barbie backpack that I put my name on. I mainly see it as a fun tradition. I love that all the seniors get to do it together,” senior Olivia Lunsford said.

Some students see it as an exciting way to end high school and connect with their classmates. Other seniors think it has a deeper, more personal meaning that allows them to reflect back to their younger self and the journey they have completed to get to this point in their lives.

“It just means being a too embrace your younger self for one more year before you have to go off to college. I think it should continue because it’s funny to see what people liked when they were younger,” senior Kaigan Lynn said.