The Things I Carry

At first glance, it is obvious that I carry clothing and shoes on my feet. I also carry three earrings in each ear and two elsewhere. I almost always carry a necklace around my neck, a bracelet or two around my right wrist, and usually a clip to pin up my hair.

I carry necessities and items with practicality. I carry the bare essentials directly on me, via back pockets. I rarely lose direct contact with my cell phone and wallet during the day. Sometimes I carry an emergency hair tie on my wrist, along with an extra clip on my backpack. I always carry Tylenol in case of headaches, lip balm in case of dry lips, and at least two flavors of gum because I am an obsessive gum chewer. I keep my keys zipped in the front compartment of my backpack for easy accessibility.

The things I carry vary by day. Along with the items previously mentioned, on school days I carry the textbooks and binders required for each class. I carry extra pens, pencils, highlighters, and additional lined paper. I do not like to be unprepared.

On any other day, my keys, wallet, and phone are sufficient in addition to my usual clothing and accessories. I find it unnecessary to carry a purse because it only allows room for collection of useless items which will only weigh me down.

I carry an abundance of emotions, dreams, and memories. I carry a sense of humor, a positive outlook, determination, dedication, and enthusiasm. I carry common sense, a mental list of things I will need to accomplish each day, and an open mind. I carry worries, fear, anxiety and stress. But above all, I carry my independence and motivation to stay strong and work hard to get to where I want to be in life.