Over the years, many seniors at FCHS have hung up their solid color bookbags in exchange for cartoony, nostalgic backpacks. From Lightning McQueen to Hello Kitty, these bookbags offer seniors one last reminder of fleeting childhoods.

“There were a lot of options for the backpacks. I went to Target to get mine. There were a few kids’ shows like “Dora” and “Bluey,” but I ended up going with Hello Kitty and Friends because I thought it was the cutest, and it was on sale,” said senior Vanessa Vandevander.

Although the trend gained popularity in 2021 on TikTok, the tradition goes as far back as 2008. Some seniors got their inspiration for the trend from upperclassmen or posts on social media.

“I think [the bags] are very fun and give seniors a chance to be their younger selves again,” said sophomore Audrey Dickinson.

“This trend is just so fun, and it brings us back to when we were just starting out in school. I wanted to wear a backpack that related back to something I loved in my childhood that was silly and made me happy,” said senior Eliana Portman.

As some children’s bookbags are not equipped to carry heavy textbooks and Chromebooks, it remains to be seen how many seniors will find their bookbags last the entire school year.

“I plan on keeping my book bag the whole year. It’s just a book bag, and I don’t really care if people stop wearing them after a while,” said senior JaKiyah Johnson.