12 Things We All Hid in Our Backpacks as Kids
These are the odd little treasures and secret stashes we used to hide in our backpacks when we were growing up.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Backpacks were more than just for carrying books; they were private treasure chests where kids kept their little secrets, snacks, and sometimes completely random objects. Here are some of the weirdest and most relatable things we all stuffed in there and hoped no one would find.
1. Stashes of Candy
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Somehow, there was always a pack of fruit chews or a melted lollipop hiding in the bottom. You might not have even remembered putting it there. However, it was your emergency backup for boring classes or a lunchtime barter.
2. Gel Pens You Never Used in Class
TylerDignam on Wikimedia Commons
You bought them to take notes, but they ended up just decorating the inside of your folder. The glittery ink barely worked on regular paper, but they looked too cool to leave behind. You guarded them like gold, even when they ran out of ink.
3. Crumpled Notes You Meant to Pass
Nikhilesh Haval on Wikimedia Commons
They started as bold messages to pass during class, but never made it to the other side. Either you got too scared, or the teacher got too close. They sat there, folded ten ways, until the end of the year.
4. Mini Journals of Deep Thoughts
Arina Krasnikova on Wikimedia Commons
You filled two pages and then gave up, but that notebook felt important. It held your deepest thoughts, even if they were just about your math teacher being unfair. It was hidden beneath textbooks like some kind of emotional vault.
5. A Random Toy You Swore Brought Luck
Annie Mole on Wikimedia Commons
It could have been a tiny figurine or a plastic ring from a cereal box. You carried it like it had magical powers during pop quizzes. It made no sense, but leaving it at home felt like asking for bad luck.
6. Homework You “Forgot” to Turn In
Gorkaazk on Wikimedia Commons
It was finished, folded, and buried in the wrong pocket. You had every intention of handing it in until it was too late. Then, it just lived in your backpack as a quiet reminder of your mistake.
7. Stickers You Never Used
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You had big dreams for your sticker collection, but couldn’t bring yourself to peel them. They just stayed on their sheets, tucked into your folder like rare art. You even showed them off during recess like collectibles.
8. Snack Wrappers You Meant to Throw Away
Doomed Shadow on Wikimedia Commons
You always told yourself you would toss them after lunch, but never did. Your backpack slowly filled with the ghosts of snacks past. Crumpled chip bags and sticky granola wrappers became part of the scenery.
9. That Extra Sock You Couldn’t Explain
Venemaa; Petseri rajoon, Põrste küla; valmistaja: Helü, Linda; fotograaf: Tuul, Toomas on Wikimedia Commons
It was just there one day and never left. You had no idea whose it was or how it got there, but it felt wrong to take it out. It lived in the bottom corner, like a weird little roommate.
10. Friendship Bracelets from Camp
The White House on Wikimedia Commons
They were barely holding together, but you could not throw them out. Each one had a story, even if you forgot the names behind them. They stayed tangled up in your bag like souvenirs of better summers.
11. Cool Sunglasses You Never Wore Indoors
Ted Eytan on Wikimedia Commons
You thought they made you look awesome, but putting them on in class felt like too big a move. They just stayed in your bag for show. Every now and then, you peeked at them like a secret identity.
12. Old School IDs You Didn’t Need
Manhyia on Wikimedia Commons
They were outdated, cringey, and impossible to toss out. You kept them in a tiny zip pocket like proof of your awkward evolution. They were badges of honor you never showed anyone.