10 High School Necessities

Back to school season is in full swing and for high school students, shopping can be the same monotonous task that it is every year. You've got a huge list that your school mailed to you, but how much of that stuff do actually need? In fact, most of it is probably stuff you already have at home. If you're looking for some help in narrowing down your list, here are 10 essential back to school supplies for high schoolers taken from my own high school experience.

1) Binders and/or spiral notebooks.

What you choose depends on your organizing preferences, which you probably have figured out by now. Most of my teachers didn't really care if we had binders or not despite the school supply list. As long as we had a place to put our stuff, they were fine with whatever. Of course, I always had one or two who decided to be an unnecessary stickler, so some years I had a binder anyway. Personally, I hate binders because they're bulky and a pain to use, especially since I'm left-handed.

2) Pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.

Your list probably tells you to get these things anyway, but keep in mind your own manner of writing and taking notes along with the classes you'll be taking. Most math classes will require you to use a pencil. I suggest mechanical pencils since they always write clearly and are more fun to use. As far as pens go, I'd stay away from the erasable kind. Sure they're convenient and they're a pretty good idea, but they smudge easily (especially for those of us who are left-handed) and they tend to run out pretty quickly. If you're the type of person who likes to highlight, then by all means restock on highlighters, but most teachers are okay with underlining things in pen.

3) Backpack.

You'll need a strong backpack to get you through your high school years, especially since the load you'll be hauling around everyday is bound to get pretty heavy at times. Make sure you get one with lots of space and care for it as best you can. The fact of the matter is that no matter what promises the backpack companies give you, holes will appear and zippers will break. Ideally, you'd like to have just one backpack for all four years of high school, but I went through two.

While I recommend messenger bags for college students, I don't think they're a good idea for high school. I used a messenger bag my freshman year of high school and switched to a backpack the next year. I hardly had any room in the messenger bag for the things I needed to carry. Plus, the bag was sort of falling apart at the end of the year. The fact of the matter is that high school students carry around a lot more than college students, so the bigger the better.

4) Folders.

Folders are a great way to keep track of loose papers. They're slim and lightweight, so they won't be as much of a burden as binders. Plus, they're cheap and come in a variety of cute designs. I suggest plastic over paper so that you can reuse them.

5) TI-83 graphing calculator.

If you don't already have one, get one. They'll save your life in high school math classes. Plus, they're a lot of fun to play with and they last a very long time. I still have mine, even though I don't use it anymore. Make sure you get lots of batteries for it, too.

6) New clothes.

Here's the fun part of back to school shopping. Getting some new clothes can really make you feel ready for the new school year. There are some great sales going on right now, so take advantage of them and get yourself some nice new pieces.

7) New shoes.

Go back to school in comfort and style with a new pair of tennis or casual shoes. You'll be walking and running around a lot as you move from class to class, so make sure to get shoes that won't make your feet hurt at the end of the day.

8) Water bottle.

The first few weeks (or months) of school can be extremely hot, so carry a water bottle around with you to stay hydrated. Otherwise, your only chances of getting something to drink would be during lunch or at the vending machines in between classes. I've never had a teacher who had a problem with water bottles on students' desks, so don't worry about getting in trouble for having one.

9) Alarm clock.

As much as you'll want to throw it against the wall every morning, make sure you have one. You'll need one when you go off to college anyway, so you might as well get one now. Personally, I use an ipod player and have my ipod go off in the morning as my alarm. It's less annoying and waking up to my own music often puts me in a good mood.

10) Lunch supplies.

This really only applies of you intend on making your own lunch. Stock up on stuff before school starts so you'll have enough materials to last you a couple weeks. You don't want to run out of bread or drinks on Monday if you can't get to the grocery store until Saturday.

So, there's my list! I hope you found it helpful. Good luck shopping and have a great year!