At NVOT, hordes of students carry weighed-down backpacks while navigating their chaotic school schedules. When students are given only five minutes to switch between classes, it becomes crucial to discard unnecessary weight and carry only the most essential items. To best strategize which items are most needed, I’ve ranked the top 7 items to carry this school year.

7: Lip balm

One critical thing to address at NVOT is just how dry the school air is despite the open windows. Although not a fatal hazard, the air can certainly frustrate students by creating an epidemic of cracked lips throughout the school. Carrying around a trusty Burt’s Bees or EOS lip balm is a simple yet ideal way to avoid sporting chapped lips.

6: Calculator

Every single NVOT student is expected to carry a charged (emphasis on charged) calculator religiously, considering the amount of calculations that are needed for every math and science class. Save yourself the humiliation of asking to borrow calculators from classmates or teachers you just met by carrying this must-bring item in your bag. I can assure you that spending $99 on a TI-84 or Numworks that will last you the entire four years here at NVOT has a high reward factor. 

5: Deodorant

For anyone who has gym in the morning, this item isn’t only an essential, but a requirement. When you’re stuck in a classroom with a broken air conditioner right after running the mile, you’ll want that deodorant ready. Beyond that, the dusty, sweaty hallways of NVOT are a daily battle for many students, where many helplessly try to fight against this sickly smell with layers of perfume and cologne. Picking up a deodorant may be the best combatant against the smell.

4: Gum or Altoids

Among the top 10 worst hygiene crimes a person can commit is having bad breath. Carrying around an emergency pack of gum or Altoids is a total necessity, especially if you’re someone who spends 75% of your class periods chatting about flunking your AP US History MCQ. A 30-second pit stop at the Bi-State CVS Pharmacy will save you a lifetime of embarrassment. 

3: Charger (and a backup for extra preparation)

One of the worst feelings is when you arrive at school just before the clock strikes 7:55 a.m., slide into the rickety school chair, and open up your school computer to work on your class assignment–only to see the dreaded red battery icon with an 8% on its side. With your hectic school schedule and extracurricular activities to tend to, you want to avoid as many avoidable obstacles as possible, and this item will be your saving grace.  

2: Snacks

If you’re someone who skips out on breakfast for an extended lunch, you’re out of luck. With the exception of modified schedules, students only have 52 minutes to eat lunch. Walking to the cafeteria, waiting in the line, and talking with your friends leaves you less than 30 minutes for actual consumption. As an avid eater, I strongly recommend packing a granola bar or a small bag of candies to eat in between classes when there’s time to spare. Trust me, no one in your class wants to hear your empty stomach growl while trying to remember the quadratic formula during their math test.

1: School ID

Whether you’re a new freshman still adjusting to high school norms or a familiar upperclassman with junior or senior privileges, your school ID will be a lifeline at NVOT. This final, most essential school item is equal to the Get Out of Jail Free card that a player might obtain during a lucky round of Monopoly–fortunately for you, your school ID is already given to you. These can be used to swipe out of the suffocating cafeteria room in exchange for 51 minutes of freedom or quickly buying the school lunch without breaking a sweat.

While there are so many important things to bring to a 7-hour school day, I hope my comprehensive list comes in handy to have you stocked up with school essentials. Make sure to remember to have these items packed and ready; being forgetful is another battle to deal with.