Remember your first ever day of school: how you straightened out your school clothes, made sure your mom packed your favorite lunch and carefully packed your backpack? Do you remember your first backpack? Mine was red with Mickey Mouse and it carried all of my primary school books. Years later, I still fondly remember it as a symbol of happy school days and childhood. Unfortunately, years fly by and it’s time for exams and college applications. But some seniors found a fun way to hold onto childhood a little longer by wearing childish backpacks to school. This senior backpack challenge quickly went viral on TikTok and took a lot of people down memory lane.
Colorful, fun backpacks with one’s favorite cartoon character sound like a perfect choice for a kindergartener
Usually, a lot of teenagers cannot wait to become adults; they strive for independence and want to appear mature. But the tide seems to be turning, as a lot of high school seniors are dropping the cool kid facades and embracing a childish style. As a lot of students are heading back to school, most of them are shopping for essential school supplies and new backpacks to carry them in. Instead of sleek or trendy ones, they are choosing the ones with their favorite childhood characters: Backyardigans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spider-man – you name it.
This trend is taking the internet by storm. A quick search of #seniorbackpacks reveals a kaleidoscope of colorful and fun pint-sized bags. Seniors are showing off their new backpacks on TikTok, making commentators reminiscence about their school days and wishing they would’ve kept their SpongeBob or Disney Princess backpack. It is a heartwarming trend, reminding the parents that despite their babies being almost 18, they are still little kids who have a whole year to enjoy before they become adults who have to worry about taxes.
A few commentators noted that this trend isn’t new, and a lot of seniors have been wearing childish backpacks for years. Some schools even allow juniors and sophomores to get involved. Only in recent years has this become a mainstream trend. Someone take me back in time – I want to wear one to school.
Image credits: cghseniors24
Image credits: cghseniors24
But it’s high school seniors who are opting for childish backpacks
Image credits: karlieissoswag
Image credits: karlieissoswag
The senior year of high school is a bittersweet one. On one hand, you have the excitement of the future, studying things you’re passionate about and never again having to see that one teacher that made your life miserable. On the other hand, it means leaving childish things behind and having to fend for yourself.
That’s why it’s so important not to rush into things and to enjoy the carefree days while you can. These high school seniors have the right idea – embracing this new trend gives them the ability to set the anxieties of the exams and college applications aside and just admire each other’s backpacks, creating memories they will cherish forever.
The senior backpack trend invoked a pleasant sense of nostalgia for simpler days. It also sparked a sense of unity among seniors. Back in kindergarten, whoever had the same sweater or same shoes automatically would become best friends. Now, years later, seeing someone rock the backpack with the same cartoon characters reminds us of that innocent feeling. In less than a year, everyone will go on different paths, so this is the last time seniors will spend as a collective.
Image credits: karlieissoswag
With characters like Bluey, Spiderman, SpongeBob and Hannah Montana, they are rocking the back-to-school style
Image credits: karlieissoswag
Image credits: karlieissoswag
Although this trend is adorable, high school can be a very stressful experience. A lot of students feel extreme pressure to get good grades and add as many extracurricular activities as possible to get a shot at their dream college. Such stress can have both psychological and physiological effects on a young student.
Prolonged stress can lead to insomnia, headaches, and low energy. It can lead to eventual burnout – a condition that takes time to recover from. But there is no time when you’re a senior and have exams looming. That’s why it is important to catch a break occasionally and just do something fun. There are no studies that tasty treats boost academic performance, but they surely boost one’s mood, especially when shared by a favorite classmate.
Some people remember high school as the best time of their lives, but it’s not the case for everyone. Studying subjects that are boring, mean kids that look down at each other – it can be nothing like sweet romantic coming-of-age comedies. If that is/was your experience, remember that high school is just a temporary stop on a great journey called life and life does get better as the years go on.
This heartwarming trend lets seniors embrace the last vestiges of carefreeness and innocence
Image credits: karlieissoswag
Image credits: karlieissoswag
Image credits: tamialanaee
High school is a temporary stop in life’s journey. Make the most out of it
Image credits: tamialanaee
There are a lot of silly trends all over the internet, but the senior backpack trend is a heartwarming exception: a symbol of an academic journey and a connection to one’s younger self. Hopefully, these seniors will hold on to their inner child forever and find joy in childish things when adult life gets too hard.
We wish high school seniors and their parents a happy and exciting beginning of the school year.
Do you have fond memories of high school?
People in the comments loved seniors embracing their childish side
"Some schools even allow Juniors and sophomores to get involved"??? Hello fun character backpacks from childhood are for EVERYONE who can say only seniors are allowed??
i love love love love LOVE bluey! IT IS NOT A SHOW FOR JUST KIDS. It talks about infertility, hints at miscarriage, and even looks at moms straight at their eyes and says, "your doing great"
My school just banned backpacks, but if I could I would totally do this!
May I ask what reason, if any, they gave?
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Totally support this! It is really cute. I wonder is these backpacks are the bullet proof ones.
Wow, I’m from the uk, it blows my mind that there’s even such a thing as a bulletproof backpack.
Load More Replies... My school has been doing this for the past few years and I'm going to be a senior in a few weeks so I've got to decide which kiddie backpack to get. Anyone got suggestions? It's pretty fun and allows students to express themselves and also is a talking point and conversation starter between people. It's become a little of an exclusivity thing because you can tell someone is a senior by their backpack and some underclassmen get made fun of if they try to get in on the action early. I think it's better as a light hearted way to end off grade school in the last year before college.
I remember when I was a kid, everyone tried to be so grown up in their early teenage years, but by the time we got to late high school age, we were able to embrace our ‘childish’ sides (and were able to be much happier). Like in my experience the people who love being given stickers at school are 11-12 year olds and 16-18 year olds
Omg I am doing that this year and I already got a dinosaur backpack ☺️
same! I have a matching water bottle and lunchbox, too 😆
Load More Replies...
I’m buying a new Kuromi backpack for this entire reason ❤️ I love that the older kids are doing this now
I did this at university in the early 90s. It's fun when little kids come up to tell you that you're bag twins.
I'm almost 50, and have been doing quite a bit of flying across the country to be with my fiance until I pack up and move with him. I hadn't flown in a while, and wanted something bigger than my purse as my personal carry-on item. I wanted to get a backpack as this would be a practical item and easy to carry thru the airports. I was seriously considering two different kids backpacks - one that had a big unicorn, and a Super Mario Bros backpack. The only reason I didn't buy either one is because they weren't quite big enough. I embrace being a kid at heart. But I'm also a responsible adult who knows how to conduct myself in a professional environment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing/using something that brings you joy! The only reason I can see this being a problem in the school is if it causes disruption in the classroom.
I'm 32, and I have a Freddy Fazbear backpack. Let people have fun.
Love this. Cartoons and animated movies are definitely not just for kids so why should we start to dislike it once we grow older? Embrace the things that make you happy.
This is nothing new! We did this high school and I went to school through 2009-2012
I love this. I am going to save my son's Blippi backpack for when he is a Sr. I don't see this trend going away.
I love the Patrick and TMNT backpacks :) Love that they're all so happy with their packs!
This has been a trend for years. It started when my now 28 year old was still in school
I got myself a pink bear shaped backpack with light-up ears when I was 28 and I don't regret it one bit. Some people (my parents, some family members, some friends) say it's dumb and childish but I absolutely love it and I really don't care. The amount of people who stopped me on the street to tell me my backpack is adorable and to ask me where I got it is WAAAY bigger than the amount of people who made fun of it
"Some schools even allow Juniors and sophomores to get involved"??? Hello fun character backpacks from childhood are for EVERYONE who can say only seniors are allowed??
i love love love love LOVE bluey! IT IS NOT A SHOW FOR JUST KIDS. It talks about infertility, hints at miscarriage, and even looks at moms straight at their eyes and says, "your doing great"
My school just banned backpacks, but if I could I would totally do this!
May I ask what reason, if any, they gave?
Load More Replies... Totally support this! It is really cute. I wonder is these backpacks are the bullet proof ones.
Wow, I’m from the uk, it blows my mind that there’s even such a thing as a bulletproof backpack.
Load More Replies... My school has been doing this for the past few years and I'm going to be a senior in a few weeks so I've got to decide which kiddie backpack to get. Anyone got suggestions? It's pretty fun and allows students to express themselves and also is a talking point and conversation starter between people. It's become a little of an exclusivity thing because you can tell someone is a senior by their backpack and some underclassmen get made fun of if they try to get in on the action early. I think it's better as a light hearted way to end off grade school in the last year before college.
I remember when I was a kid, everyone tried to be so grown up in their early teenage years, but by the time we got to late high school age, we were able to embrace our ‘childish’ sides (and were able to be much happier). Like in my experience the people who love being given stickers at school are 11-12 year olds and 16-18 year olds
Omg I am doing that this year and I already got a dinosaur backpack ☺️
same! I have a matching water bottle and lunchbox, too 😆
Load More Replies... I’m buying a new Kuromi backpack for this entire reason ❤️ I love that the older kids are doing this now
I did this at university in the early 90s. It's fun when little kids come up to tell you that you're bag twins.
I'm almost 50, and have been doing quite a bit of flying across the country to be with my fiance until I pack up and move with him. I hadn't flown in a while, and wanted something bigger than my purse as my personal carry-on item. I wanted to get a backpack as this would be a practical item and easy to carry thru the airports. I was seriously considering two different kids backpacks - one that had a big unicorn, and a Super Mario Bros backpack. The only reason I didn't buy either one is because they weren't quite big enough. I embrace being a kid at heart. But I'm also a responsible adult who knows how to conduct myself in a professional environment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing/using something that brings you joy! The only reason I can see this being a problem in the school is if it causes disruption in the classroom.
I'm 32, and I have a Freddy Fazbear backpack. Let people have fun.
Love this. Cartoons and animated movies are definitely not just for kids so why should we start to dislike it once we grow older? Embrace the things that make you happy.
This is nothing new! We did this high school and I went to school through 2009-2012
I love this. I am going to save my son's Blippi backpack for when he is a Sr. I don't see this trend going away.
I love the Patrick and TMNT backpacks :) Love that they're all so happy with their packs!
This has been a trend for years. It started when my now 28 year old was still in school
I got myself a pink bear shaped backpack with light-up ears when I was 28 and I don't regret it one bit. Some people (my parents, some family members, some friends) say it's dumb and childish but I absolutely love it and I really don't care. The amount of people who stopped me on the street to tell me my backpack is adorable and to ask me where I got it is WAAAY bigger than the amount of people who made fun of it
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