18 Things Everyone Had in Their Locker Back Then
If your locker didn’t have at least 10 of these, did you even go to school?
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
High school lockers weren’t just for books. They were mini time capsules of personality, drama, and survival gear. Whether it was a crusty gym uniform or a stack of secret notes, everyone had their go-to stash. Let’s take a nostalgic stroll through the 18 locker staples every student swore by.
1. A Mirror (Usually Cracked or Crooked)
Anna Shvets on Pexels
No locker was complete without a small magnetic mirror. It was essential for last-minute hair fixes or checking for spinach after lunch.
2. Gym Clothes (That Smelled Like Death)
Lloyd James on Pexels
That balled-up PE uniform lived at the bottom of the locker, probably since September. It reeked, but nobody dared take it home unless absolutely necessary.
3. Doodles and Photos Taped Everywhere
Clarissa Watson on Unsplash
Whether it was a sketch of your crush or magazine clippings, that inside door was prime decorating real estate. It told your story, who you liked, what band you loved, or how bored you were in math class.
4. A Half-Eaten Snack (Probably Stale)
Steven Miller on Flickrf
A forgotten bag of chips or a crusty granola bar was always buried under the clutter. You didn’t pack it, but there it was, your emergency fuel.
5. Stacks of Old Assignments
Paula on Pexels
Loose papers, old quizzes, and graded homework formed a leaning tower of chaos. It was your personal archive; useless but impossible to toss.
6. Secret Notes Folded into Triangles
Minha Baek on Unsplash
Pre-text era, these paper messages were gold. Passed in class, tucked in lockers, or saved for emotional emergencies, they were part confessional, part gossip column.
7. A Combination Lock You Could Open Blindfolded
Mian Rizwan on Pexels
You knew that combo better than your birthday. The clicks, the rhythm — it was muscle memory. God help you if you forgot it before first period.
8. A Random Textbook You Never Took Home
Hòa Lê Đình on Pexels
It sat there all semester, untouched, except for pop quiz days. You told yourself you’d take it home eventually. Spoiler: you didn’t.
9. A Stick of Deodorant (Usually Shared)
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Nothing says panic like forgetting to put on deodorant after gym. That backup stick? Lifesaver. Whether it was yours or “borrowed” from a friend, it was the MVP of the locker zone.
10. Tattered Folders Stuffed to the Max
Adil Khan Marwat on Pexels
Those cheap paper folders couldn’t handle the pressure. Papers burst out from every angle, labels were unreadable, and they barely closed.
11. Extra Pencils (Mostly Chewed)
J H on Pexels
You had at least five, and four were missing erasers. One was always broken, but they were there, loyal and gnawed, ready for action.
12. Lip Balm or Gloss You Guarded With Your Life
Dear Scrub on Unsplash
Especially in winter, this was survival, not vanity. Everyone had their brand — Lip Smackers, ChapStick, or something from Bath & Body Works.
13. A Crumpled Hall Pass You Never Used
Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
You kept it “just in case,” like a Monopoly Get Out of Jail Free card. It was expired, torn, or maybe even forged.
14. A Cracked CD Case or Burnt Mix
Stephanie on Wikimedia Commons
If your school allowed CD players, that locker had your playlist ready. From emo anthems to teen pop, that scratched disc was everything.
15. A Spare Hoodie for “Emergency Days”
LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash
Too cold? Too lazy to dress up? The backup hoodie came to the rescue. Usually oversized, a little musty, and everyone’s favorite to “borrow.”
16. Stickers or Quotes You Thought Were Deep
Damien Tait on Unsplash
Maybe it said “Carpe Diem” or some moody lyrics from a Dashboard Confessional song. It felt profound at the time.
17. A Random Trinket That Made No Sense
moren hsu on Unsplash
A rubber duck, stress ball, or tiny toy — you don’t even remember why it was there, but it stayed. It was part good luck charm, part stress relief.
18. A Schedule You Never Actually Looked At
Pixabay on Pexels
Taped proudly at the start of the year and ignored after the first week. It faded, curled, and eventually fell off. Still, it felt wrong to take it down.