A long lasting trend of seniors wearing backpacks with childhood entertainment characters on them continues to be present at Tesoro High School. From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Super Mario Bros., why do the majority of the seniors at Tesoro wear colorful, nostalgic childhood backpacks?
Like a blast from the past, every year, Tesoro seniors go back to school shopping for a particular item: a new backpack. But these aren’t just standard teenage backpacks, but instead, playful, colorful, cartoon backpacks of all kinds.
While Tesoro seniors strongly partake in this tradition, high school seniors around the country also participate in this popular high school trend. Over the past couple of years, more and more high schools around the country have started this interesting and popular trend, with seniors buying a cartoon, childish backpack to use for their senior year of high school.
Ironically, these types of backpacks were present in their lives many years prior, in grades such as first and third, where most seniors can recall having similar backpacks when they were younger. The trend seems to bring a tribute to one’s younger self, now that they are entering the next chapter of life: adulthood. By wearing a backpack similar to one when they were younger, seniors can contrast themselves now to when they were much more youthful.
When asked about this trend, a senior at Tesoro, Alex Duarte, explained, “I think it’s a great trend because we can have a little bit of fun right before we graduate.” He, among many other seniors at Tesoro, partake in this trend and find amusement in the idea.
Additionally, the rapidly growing popularity of this trend at Tesoro High School has sparked some interest among teachers as well who are not as up-to-date with teenage trends. Mrs. O’Malley, a science teacher at Tesoro High School, explained that as a senior, it is “the last time you're going to wear a cute backpack,” mentioning that it was such a cute idea. With numerous other teachers noticing the distinctive trend, many can agree with Mrs. O’Malley on the meaning of this trend and the impact it has on a grand majority of Tesoro’s seniors.
The backpack fad at Tesoro is maintained as one that is strictly for seniors only. The social norm and unwritten rules that lay in this trend prevent anyone, other than a senior, from using such backpacks. This gives the seniors a way to finish off their years of pre-college education through an act of nostalgia and appreciation for the accomplishments that they have achieved throughout their childhood. As this is strictly for seniors, it gives everyone a fair time in their lives when reaching senior status to participate in this unique craze.
Whether you’re a senior now or a future senior, this trend will likely be present at Tesoro High School for many years to come, with colorful and different backpacks every year.
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