A popular trend amongst seniors in high school is wearing a backpack that resembles one they wore as an early elementary schooler. Their choice of backpacks can be influenced from their favorite childhood movies or shows. 

It’s unknown when the trend surfaced, though it gained more recognition around 2008 due to the increased use of social media. A TikTok user, @blessupinspiration, posted a video about his daughter taking a princess-themed backpack for her senior year along with many other high schoolers in Texas who brought kiddie backpacks to school.

“They all get this little kid backpack for their senior year, to take them back to kindergarten [or] first grade, the kind of backpack they would wear back then to graduate in.” said the TikTok user.

This trend allows seniors to feel like kids again, having colorful and cool backpacks. Alivia Vanzant (‘24) said “It’s something silly all seniors can do.”

The TikTok user also said, “Man, it’s like full circle.”

Over 20,000 people ended up commenting on the post and confirming that many other seniors from different states have also hopped on the trend due to social media playing a role in in the trend’s popularity.

Vanzant said, “I heard about this trend mostly this year, so I decided to go to Amazon and order myself one.” 

Although the tradition may seem frivolous, it contains a deeper meaning behind it. Seniors participate in this trend because it’s a way for them to express a desire to hold on to their youth despite the near responsibilities of adulthood. It’s a way for them to show that no matter the growth in age and obstacles they may bear throughout their lifetime, they will always hold their youth alongside them. 

There are also some seniors like Dylan Allen (’24) who “just want to stand out and have a cool backpack.”

Either way, there are seniors at Mead High who are aware of this tradition and decided to follow along.