When I first saw someone carrying around a tote bag, I didn’t quite get the hype. I thought it would be uncomfortable to carry such a big bag on one shoulder, that it looked a little strange on students, and that it just felt off. I ended up ordering my first tote bag from Shein (I know…) and let’s just say… it was a life-changing experience. I ended up using that tote bag throughout my entire first year here at UC Davis, and I quickly realized how easy and convenient it is to carry around a tote bag.
From then on, I decided that a tote bag was the perfect replacement for a backpack for me. I began building my collection of tote bags after that, and from then on, my closet of tote bags only grew. Despite my dozens of different tote bags, the interior of my bag stays the same. That being said, here are some of the things in my tote bag!
- My pink water bottle. I’m always dehydrated so I try to drink water as much as I can! I try to bring my Brita water bottle so that I can refill my water on campus at any of the stations. My current tote bag is able to fit a lot of items, so make sure that your tote bag size corresponds with the quantity of the goodies you will carry, including a water bottle!
- My laptop. I’m someone who constantly needs to have my laptop with me–either for work, school, or personal use– so I also make sure that when I purchase a tote bag, it can fit my Macbook. However, many people do not use their tote bags in replacement of their backpacks for school, so this is just a personal preference. Be sure to plan accordingly when deciding what size you want your tote bag to be!
- My mini emergency kit. I have everything you can think of in this kit, from bobby pins to chapstick to bandaids to a mini pack of Kleenex.I strive to make sure that I have things in here to ensure that I’m adequately prepared in case of an emergency. These items were prepared mainly through experience as well as trial and error, finding that some items needed to be added, while other items needed to be taken out because they were never used.
- My “My Melody” wallet. I got my wallet from the Sanrio store in Japan when I was on my study-abroad trip! It can’t fit too much, but I stuffed all of my cards and cash and coins and stamp cards in there and now it’s overflowing with items. Every time I open my wallet something either falls out or I can’t zip it back up, but that is an inconvenience I am willing to face because of what the wallet symbolizes to me (and how adorable it is).
Overall, tote bags are still a big part of my life today, and I still continue to use them. I still have dozens of tote bags sitting in my closet that I change out once in a blue moon, ranging in size, colors, and patterns. I hope to inspire others to go out there and get a tote bag. So what are you waiting for? Now you can get a cute little tote bag and carry it around on your shoulder too!