School is just around the corner. With July on its way out, and August rolling in, there are only a few weeks of freedom left. As a freshman, I was unsure of what I would need to pack in my backpack for my classes. It seems like a silly thing to worry about now, but three years ago I was actually scared I would forget something vital to class.

Here are the things that I typically pack in my backpack:

1. Laptop

You never want to be without your laptop. While there are some professors who won't let you take notes on your laptop, most won't care, just as long as you're taking notes. College professors don't hold your hand and spoon-feed you the information. Most of my professors lecture without a PowerPoint that has bullets points of information. Having a laptop is crucial to getting down all of the information.

2. Notebook

As I said before, some teachers won't let you use any electronics in their classes, so having a notebook or some sort of paper is essential to copy down notes. As a freshman, I took a math class, purely because it was required, so I needed a notebook for that class because typing math notes is not easy.

3. Books for the class

The first day can be one of two things; it's either syllabus day, where the professor goes over the syllabus and let's class out, or the professor quickly goes over the syllabus and dives right in to the material. On the first day of class, I like to bring the books needed for said class, just in case we need them. If there are multiple books for class your professor will probably tell you when you need which book, and in that case, just bring the necessary books to class.

4. Planner

That “no child left behind" program stops as soon as you receive your high school diploma. College professors don't always remind you when you have assignments or projects due. They will usually tell you what the assignment or project is and when it's due at least once, but it is unlikely that they will continually remind you to get it done. A daily planner helps to keep everything in order. The ones with an overview of the month are great because you can write down important due dates and test dates.

5. Pens, pencils, highlighters

This is kind of a given. Even if you don't use them in notebooks, you can use them to annotate your textbooks. It's helpful to have your book out in class and highlight important sections or make notes in the margins for when you study for tests and quizzes.

6. Lip balm, lotion, and tissues

I always keep lip balm, lotion, and tissues in my bag because you never know when your lips will be chapped or your nose will run. Sometimes the air is dry and your lips and hands get dry and your nose gets dry so you get a bloody nose. It's always good to have these things, especially during harsh Nebraska winters.

7. Water bottle and a granola bar

Some classes are hard to stay awake in, so I always bring my water bottle and a granola bar to snack on when I start to feel drowsy. In the morning I'll also bring a coffee because I am not a morning person; in fact, I'm barely a person until noon. If you have classes through lunch, bring something to eat because you will be starving by the time class gets out if you don't. Your stomach may also growl loudly in a very quiet class, which is not ideal.

8. Headphones and chargers

I have classes where there's enough of a break to have down time, but not enough to go back to my dorm in between. These are the times where I try to get work done or relax and watch an episode of something on Netflix, which is why it's always good to keep headphones in your bag. If you have particularly long days, bring your laptop and phone charger so you're never out of battery.

9. Keys

Room key. Always make sure you have your room key or else you'll be waiting for your roommate to come back and who knows when that will be. You could also be paying the front desk for the lock out key and as a poor college student you don't have that kind of money.

10. Cell phone

This is probably an easy thing to keep with you, but just as a reminder, always bring your cell phone. You never know when you'll need to get a hold of someone. If you're anything like me, it will be at least once every week when you forget your key and have to call your roommate to see when she'll be back to let you in.

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