Five Things I Couldn't Get Through College Without

If you didn't already know, I am a full time college student and I take my academia very seriously. I'm studying engineering right now, therefore many of the classes I take just drown you in stats and figures and math stuff. Without a doubt being enrolled as a student full-time is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. College is draining financially, emotionally, and physically. Don't get me wrong, I love it! But occasionally it gets tough. So these are my top five things I probably would be a mess without while I'm at school.

1. A Good Backpack

If you know me at all, you will know without a doubt that I am a brand name whore. I love nice things because nice things last. Don't get me wrong--I am definitely a bargain shopper and the clearance rack is my best friend! For my first year at school, I carried a basic Jansport backpack that had a cute pattern and one or two pockets for pencils. I thought it was fine, and for my first year it did work well for me. But my first year, I didn't really study or carry a lot with me. I was fortunate enough to not have to take a heavy load my freshman year with classes, so my backpack wasn't anything special. Well, I continued to use this backpack my first semester Sophomore year and I realized that this backpack was not cutting it. It was thin and not very sturdy or padded, and since I carry around my laptop (my baby) with me almost everywhere I started to notice the issue. It also had very skinny straps, which cut into your arms when you carry a ton of books and binders all day. So, for Christmas, I asked for a nicer backpack and I got to open a beautiful North Face Hot Shot Backpack in black. This is seriously the perfect backpack for me. It has multiple pockets for all my things: my calculator, pens, pencils, chapstick even. The spot for the laptop is nicely padded and keeps my baby secure. I don't know how I lived before I had this backpack because it keeps all of my things so structured, I adore it.

2. A Planner/Agenda

I think I'd get lost without my planner. I don't necessarily care what kind of a planner it is, as long as it has a cute design and plenty of room to write in what's going on in my life. Because if it's not in my planner, it doesn't exist. I put everything in there: tests, birthdays, quizzes, homework, breaks, when I'm going home, etc. I will forget everything if I don't physically write it down, so I invest in a semi nice planner every year and by the end of the semester it looks like I destroyed it because I literally don't leave home without it. Literally, not figuratively. 

3. My computer

This one is kind of obvious. You just can't go to school anymore without a computer, it's an absolute necessity. Absolute. All of my homework is online. All of it! I have quizzes online. And now (even though I protested it and am NOT okay with it) I have tests online! You can't do anything without this baby and even if you think you can get away with not buying one (doesn't have to be a MAC, but I am biased because I love mine.) and just use a Library computer, you can't. Those computers are literally always taken unless it's 1 am and only strange people are at the library.

4. A Tumbler or Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is the most important thing you can do. I try to drink at least 8 cups a day, but I often falter. Dehydration is common among young adults and it can affect your health in a huge way. I am a huge fan of the double walled containers because the condensation doesn't get all over my things. Right now, I carry this one from Think Geek, and it's a Doctor Who TARDIS. Which is obvi, a win. But I'm also a big fan of Tervis cups, and you can customize those. I'm just a fan of straws right now.

5. Headphones

I'm not personally a fan of large headphones like the Beats by Dre, but you have to have something. My go to are the ones that came with my iphone. They're sturdy and they stay in my ears, plus they have the cool touch thing to control the volume. Headphones are needed because no one wants to sit in the library without headphones inviting people to just come talk to them. It shuts you out from the world which, when I'm doing things at the library, I don't want to be bothered. I don't have time to be bothered. I also use them at the gym (when I go, so rarely) because no one wants to listen to the crappy music that the gym plays.

Hope you all enjoyed this post.

xx