Did you have a loaded backpack at school?

I did when I was new to the school. First years always take everything bar the kitchen sink when they start- and then by the end of senior year all people bring is a pen and a scrunched up piece of paper! I am at university now though and the bag that I take gets heavier and heavier everytime I have to buy a new book! I hate the thought of missing something out which I should be remembering to take, as the journey is too far to go back if I do forget something, so I make sure that I take everything with me. Never mind- it's muscle building, if nothing else!

When I was at college I carried many books in my backpack for my studies. Some of the text books were quite large and not all of them were the same size. Then when I went to university I had lots and lots more books to carry in my backpack. I ended up buying a bike and got two saddle bags for all my books I had to carry around with me. I studied English Literature and had to shop for all different sorts of texts. I shopped in Charing Cross Road in London for the books. I got them at the lowest possible prices. Then I became a primary school teacher. Now I still carry lots of books. I have children's exercise books to mark. So a working life in teaching requires lots of books. Some teachers have boxes of books in the boot of their car.

All the way through high school I had a very heavy bag. I was required to bring certain textbooks to school every day and I couldn't use my locker at all! (It was in a very absurd location and I could never get to it and back again before the bell rang.) Plus the teachers were constantly giving homework and handouts... and the weight of paper does pile up after awhile! It's not much better now that I'm in college. I have even heavier textbooks and even more paper to go through. And now I don't even have a locker. At least there's more time between classes!