A new trend has taken over the Mills High School senior class of 2026: kid-themed backpacks! Taking inspiration from TikTok, seniors have started wearing backpacks featuring childhood characters from cartoons, shows, movies, and games.
The backpack themes range from characters such as “Barbie” and “Hello Kitty” to shows such as “My Little Pony”, “SpongeBob”, “Pokémon”, and “Transformers”, showing just how many different childhood favorites seniors are bringing back. This tradition is both playful and nostalgic, giving seniors a chance to express themselves during what can be a particularly stressful final year of high school.
“I was excited to get a school backpack because I think it’s cute and a fun way to express yourself,” Olivia Arcelona (12) said, “I knew I wanted Hello Kitty because growing up, I always liked Hello Kitty.” She also mentioned that she enjoys seeing the variety of different backpacks on campus. She added, “I think all of the backpacks are creative [and] I do think it’s a fun trend for seniors because it allows them to feel nostalgia and express themselves.”
Another senior, Ytzel Ramirez, explained the significance behind her backpack choice. “I decided to choose Tinker Bell for my backpack because growing up, I loved the Tinker Bell movies,” Ramirez said. “I think it just makes me really nostalgic and kind of miss my childhood, but I think that it’s also a really good connection to remembering the way I grew up and how much fun my entire childhood was.” She continued, “I think it’s kind of a cute way to connect to other people, like I like your backpack because I watched that growing up too or something like that.”
Overall, students feel the senior backpack trend has brought additional fun and enjoyment to their school days. With fun, eye-catching backpacks filling the halls, the senior backpack trend is leaving a significant mark on the class of 2026. As students prepare for graduation and life after high school, their backpacks serve as a reminder of the childhood memories that shaped them.