Teens across America are trading in their minimalistic high school backpacks for a trip down memory lane.
The Senior Backpack Craze
This year, seniors were seen entering their final year of school wearing kindergarten backpacks that featured Elmo, Disney Princesses, and other cartoon characters.
This alternative backpack preference may just turn out to be the hottest trend of the year.
Throwback Backpacks
Meet Dad Jeremiah, who goes by @blessupinspiration on TikTok.
In a recent viral video, he showed his daughter’s senior year backpack: a small and sparkly Disney Princess-themed delight. The bag has nine princesses printed on the front, including Rapunzel and Aurora, and is covered in sequins.
Throwback Backpacks
“This is my daughter’s going-back-to-school backpack—for her senior year in high school,” he proudly declared in his video.
The Nostalgic Allure
His daughter and her friends aren’t the only seniors who decided to buy these for their last year.
It seems that more and more high schoolers are getting in on the fashion action, unable to resist the nostalgic allure.
It’s Becoming a National Trend
While the trend seems to have started in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it is rapidly spreading across many other states.
It’s Becoming a National Trend
Students from Texas and the southern states are already participating in the shift, while those based in Utah, Arizona, California, and Maryland have recently started jumping on the bandwagon.
The Trend Is Making Its Way To Canada
Regionally, the trend is sweeping schools across the United States and even making its way to Canada.
Commemorating Kindergarten
Jeremiah explained the idea behind the trend as he showcased the pink princess backpack his daughter had chosen.
Commemorating Kindergarten
“From what she’s telling me, they all get this little kid backpack for their senior year to take them back to kindergarten, first grade. The kind of backpack they would wear back then to graduate high school in, man. It’s like full circle,” he said in his video.
Jeremiah is a fan of the trend, describing it as “the coolest thing ever!”
Trending Across America: #seniorbackpacks
A quick search of the hashtag #seniorbackpacks on social media reveals a delightful montage of high schoolers returning for their final year in style.
There are extra points for glitter, accessories like bells and whistles, and even detachable lunch boxes.
Backpack Parade Of Nostalgia
Instead of carrying the weight of adulthood on their shoulders, seniors are opting for pint-sized bags adorned with their favorite childhood figures.
From Spiderman to Minecraft, Cars to SpongeBob, and Star Wars to Sesame Street, it’s clear that no character is off the table. It’s a ’backpack parade’ of nostalgia!
The Origins Of The Trend
The origins of the senior backpack trend are somewhat hazy, but it appears to have been a regional TikTok phenomenon since at least 2021. In the South, however, it may date back as far as a decade in certain areas.
However, it truly caught fire this year.
A Backpack’s Journey That Spans Borders
While some schools limit the fun to seniors, others allow juniors, sophomores, and freshmen to bring whatever backpack they like to the premises.
However, some feel that middle school and junior high school students are too young to make kindergarten backpacks cool again.
Trip Down The Memory Lane
Nevertheless, the trend is considered by most observers to be wholesome and heartwarming, helping parents and kids alike take a trip down memory lane.
Some Seniors Are Still Using Age-Appropriate Bags
Some seniors, however, are sticking to their age-appropriate bags and even opting out of backpacks entirely—possibly in a symbolic gesture of their impending freedom.
A Symbol Of Pride And Nostalgia
As parents watch their once-tiny kindergarteners turn into young adults ready for their final year of school, they can’t help but tear up a little.
This backpack blast from the past is bound to fill both parents and teachers with pride and nostalgia.
Read More: The Worst Things Teachers Have Confiscated
Teachers have seen it all. So we asked them: what was the worst thing they had ever confiscated from a student?
Their answers would be enough to put you off the teaching career for life.
Read Now: The 20 Worst Things Teachers Have Confiscated From Students
Read More: She Didn’t Want Her Son To Sleep At His Girlfriend’s Because “Something Felt Very Off”— And She Was Right
To a child, parents’ rules and restrictions may seem arbitrary and controlling. While the occasional rule might be strict, hindsight usually reveals that—more often than not—a parent’s intuition was right.
Read More: Teaching or Chatting?
Did you know that up to 45% of all Americans have a side gig? Do you?
We found probably one of the most enjoyable, rewarding ways to earn money by teaching (chatting) with those who want to learn English online. Log in any time you want, 24/7, and get paid weekly for the hours you put in.
Learn More: Cambly 2023 Review, Requirements & Pay For Tutors (Beginner Friendly)
Read More: 20 Most Dangerous Universities in The U.S. Revealed
It is often that individual’s first time living away from their parents; some students even travel to an entirely new state for school. With such distance from everything and everyone they know, it’s important for students to choose schools that are—among other things—safe.
Read More: 20 Most Dangerous Universities in The U.S. Revealed
Read More: Dad Let His Son Take “Toy” To Show and Tell, Not Knowing What It Really Was
When Mom’s away, Dad and son will play.
Read Now: Dad Let His Son Take “Toy” To Show and Tell, Not Knowing What It Really Was
This article was produced by TPR Teaching.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.