They are going “back” in time.
Local high school seniors may be on the cusp of adulthood—dating, driving, and applying to colleges—but they’re choosing very childish book bags to take back to school with.
Backpacks emblazoned with Disney characters and other children’s cartoons have become more stringent for the senior year of secondary education.
“Everybody’s involved — it’s such a cool thing,” said Jaiden Lipschultz, a 17-year-old Westchester High School senior who is walking to class with a Little Mermaid backpack. “The fact that everyone is doing it makes it better.”
For years, the Disney fan dressed up as the mermaid Ariel for birthdays and Halloween. The theme of her third birthday was “The Little Mermaid”.
“Her love for Ariel is real and goes way back,” said her mother, Ilyssa Lipschultz.
In recent years, the younger Lipschultz has admired high-end sports bags featuring Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes and Dora the Explorer, and is looking forward to participating in the trend.
“I knew I had to take it [an Ariel backpack] for my senior year,” she told The Post.
Friends often coordinate themes to create the perfect photo (and social media fodder).
Lipschultz’s group of friends shared cult favorites like Elsa, Belle, Moana, Minnie Mouse, Sofia the First and the Care Bears so everyone had a special set.
The tradition of students wearing baby backpacks for their senior year of high school has been brewing for years, but it’s becoming increasingly popular, thanks in part to social media.
On TikTok and Instagram, teenagers show off their immature backpacks under hashtags like #senioryear and #seniorbackpacks.
“Since the pandemic, it’s been a big thing,” said Aries Wickham, a 17-year-old from Manhattan who notes that the trend is fueled by nostalgia.
“It’s senior year, it’s your senior year, and it’s a big thing to recreate kindergarten pictures when you do senior pictures,” she said, adding that students are often shown old and current pictures in the yearbook.
Since her public school in the city requires uniforms, Wickham said the backpack is also a key form of self-expression.
“Because of [our uniforms]people want to have more fun with other things,” Wickham explained.
She’s waiting until her school announces its annual musical — usually revealed during the first week — before committing to a themed bag.
Last year’s musical was SpongeBob SquarePants, and the absorbent animated character was a popular choice in her school backpack.
Some teens just can’t wait for their senior year.
For Rose Altschuler, a Long Island resident entering her junior year, a family trip to Disneyland over the summer inspired her to purchase a $55 Mickey Mouse and Friends backpack.
She wears it proudly even though it is not her senior year.
“I feel like some people find it uncomfortable to wear a backpack with character, but I’m just like, ‘If you want a backpack with character, you should just go for it and not care what other people think,'” she said. she.
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Image Source : nypost.com