College is a special time in a woman’s life in which fun, spontaneous and surprising things happen on a day-to-day basis. We will have a day of crazy spontaneity with friends, all of our classes may be cancelled randomly for a day or we will get our period in public and do the classic toilet paper trick. But besides the hypothetical scenarios in which these arbitrary endeavors could occur, we should still be merely prepared. It is just college, after all.
1. School supplies: pens, notebook, laptop, planner, the book you’re reading for leisure, etc.
And do NOT be the person on the first day of class who doesn't bring a pen nor paper because they think it’s just “syllabus day.” Not every prof. is nice enough to let you go early, and the person you’re asking if they have an extra pen and paper for you to use is going to judge you so hard. Be prepared, folks.
2. Your wallet
Do NOT forget your wallet! Even though it’s “just campus”, something important may happen, and you will need your wallet. Plus, it’s just irresponsible to walk around the world without money or your ID. I mean, what if you get hit by a car, and no one knows who you are? That would be so sad.
3. Tide ToGo
I actually ran out of this stuff, but when I did carry it around, I always looked really clean. Now, I just look like a well-kempt hobo. (As contradictory as that statement sounds, it’s very true.)
4. Tampons. Pads. A glorious abundance of your choice of whatever leakage mop you use to clean up the most womanly mess there is.
Surprises do happen. Especially in college when you're under stress, sometimes things can be irregular.
5. USB Flash Drive
You never know when you will get the urge to walk into Club Lib and decide out of nowhere to do that horrid project you’ve been putting off all week.
6. Your idea of a healthy snack
Let’s face it, “healthy” is a subjective term, even though it shouldn’t be. What you may think is healthy, I will most likely think is super unhealthy, but whatever, let’s agree to disagree. Have an apple on deck, a Kind Bar, a banana; maybe even go nuts and pack some almonds in a baggie. (Pun intended.)
7. Your cell phone charger
This is the part of the article where I should take my own advice. You think you have to go on campus for one class, but it’s four hours later, and you’re meandering around aimlessly, trying to find a new club to join. Point is, you never know what/who you will walk into, and who will keep you talking for an hour and a half about their boyfriend’s smelly asshole. So, cell phone charger. Bring it. Especially if you have long days on campus.
8. Lotion and Chapstick
Notably since it’s winter, you need lotion and chapstick in the small pocket of your backpack. Not the big pocket. The small one. Make sure it’s the small one, ok!? But really, if you don't think you need it, your body and lips sure as hell need it, so pack it. And do your body a favor and apply it, so you don’t look like a dry piece of snakeskin walking through life.
9. Hand Sanitizer.
SCENARIO: You just pumped gas after class and have a bagel in the car. You’re about to go to study group at Club Lib and don't have time to wash your hands. Are you just going to eat your innocent bagel with your germ-infested hands? Poor bagel. Carry around some hand sanitizer. Be that person. And then use your lotion from idea #8, and apply it to your hands so you don’t have dry skin. You’re welcome.
10. Altoids
So, my issue is that I bring my breakfast and coffee to my first class. Am I going to be rude and talk to everyone once I’m finished with my hot coffee breath? No, sir. I am going to be a good samaritan and do everyone a favor, and chew an Altoid up real quick so that my words don’t have the aftertaste of dragon breath.
