By: Sarah Hughes

Senior Staff Writer

It’s that time again – if we were still in kindergarten, our would teachers have plastered the walls with paper apples and our parents would have fulfilled every item on a list that may have included pencils, paper, kleenex and 12 mysterious marbles.

This school year you are probably at least partly responsible for checking off items on a back to school shopping list. You might not even know what you need.

Here are some things that I have come to appreciate at CSUSM.

1. A reusable water bottle – Drinking water is vital to your body’s premium functioning. Especially when you go to a school with our particular combination of sun, concrete surfaces and heat. There are these really nifty water fill up stations at almost every building. They look like fancy drinking fountains. They are filtered and the perfect size to fill up a water bottle that is 12 inches or smaller, so it almost doesn’t matter what reusable bottle you pick.

Reusable drinking vessels are often marked “BPA free” meaning they don’t contain a concerning chemical called Bisphenol A that mimics estrogen, which you might learn all about if you take Dr. Jessica Berry’s BIOL 326-Biological Trends in 21st Century Medicine. By using a reusable water bottle, you can divert adding water bottles to landfills and the constant production of disposable plastic bottles, which is a very responsible decision. I recommend one that can clip onto your bag, by itself or with a carabiner. Having a straw and being spillproof is nice too. If it’s opening is large enough for ice, then you can even pour your fancy frothe iced drink into it or bring juice from home.

2. Tennis shoes – Have you seen the stairs yet? Our pet name is CSU Stair Master and for good reason. In addition to heat, rushing around from classes on opposite sides of campus can wear your feet out. Be careful to avoid getting foot problems from walking in bad shoes. Even flip flops can hurt sometimes, especially if you are carrying a lot of heavy books.

“If you have flat feet or high arches,” says WebMD, “You’re more likely to get plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of your foot. It’s the leading cause of heel pain.”

Even flip flops can hurt sometimes, especially if you are carrying a lot of expensive, heavy books. My solution is a cute and comfy pair of cross training sneakers, in obnoxiously bright, but somewhat androgynous colors. Designer Shoe Warehouse has Nike and other brands in a variety of colors and sizes from $49.94 – $84.95.

3. Sunscreen – Who doesn’t want to look like an old dried out leather couch when they are old? Me! Beyond the vain reasons, not getting sunburns or skin damage helps to lower your risk of skin cancer.

“One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life” according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. “A person’s risk for melanoma also doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age.”

To help reduce your chances of potentially appropriating age spots and cancer, use sunscreen daily to cover your hands, face and chest. Many medical professionals recommend a SPF of 15 or higher for everyday use and 30 SPF in areas of high sun. You can do it a little at a time when you put on lotion with Lubriderm Moisturizing Lotion or make it fun with Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Sunscreen.

4. Shades with a carrying case – Sometimes at U-hour, it’s so bright that it’s easy to walk into things. Sunglasses make driving a whole lot easier and seeing on campus a whole lot nicer. You probably already have a pair. If you want them to stay smudge and scratch free place them inside a carrying case.

“The futures so bright,” says Timbuk3, “I gotta wear shades.”

Consider a lightweight fabric pouch. If you have space in your bag, a hard case will make them crush-proof. Looking for another free option? A clean sock in your backpack will keep your pencils from bumping against the lenses!

5. Headphones – There are computers for you to use everywhere on campus. If your teacher assigns a video for you to watch, the internet connection here might work better than yours at home. If you don’t bring headphones, you won’t be able to hear it, as many computers don’t have their own speakers. Carry them constantly just in case. You never know when you’re going to have an extra moment to listen to music or catch up on work in the library.

The Gumy brand headphones come in a rainbow of colors, are usually under $5 and available at Best Buy and Wal-Mart. In my experience, they work well for the price and have lasted since 2008.

6. A hand towel and a lock – As a student you can use the Clarke Gym on campus for free. After filling out the initial paperwork at the front desk for safety reasons, you need to remember to bring a towel and a lock. The towel will help you sanitize the machines and the lock will help keep your belongings safe.

According to literature, towels have other purposes. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has a few things to say on the subject of towels,” says Douglas Adams, “A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitch hiker can have.”

If you also have your headphones from above, bring a music device as well and find a good workout playlist. Working out can be a great stress relief and will help keep your body strong and healthy. Take a break from studying and run.

7. Get a print card with some money already loaded onto it. Tuck it away in your wallet. Then, when you realize you forgot to print something for class that’s due in ten minutes, you can do this without freaking out about how you have no cash and don’t know how to work the printer in the library.

“One may be purchased in the print/copy room on the 2nd floor of Kellogg library room 2021 and on the 3rd floor room 3310,” says CSUSM.edu, “Print cards cost $1. Then you must put on credit to the card for each page you would like to print. It is 15 cents per page of black and white, and 35 cents per page of colored print.”

If you use the machines in the copy room, you may have to use paper bills.

8. Syllabi – Print out the syllabus for every class and bring them with you. Then you can work on homework in class if things are going slow. You’ll never be that person that is asking when the paper is due. You might become friends with those people instead, when they ask you what the syllabus says.

You can even make a master list from them with all the assignments you have due. Then you can figure out what weeks are busy and work ahead.

9. Scantrons – Look at your syllabus and figure out how many scantrons and blue books you need for the whole semester. Confer with your teacher to know which types. Purchase those supplies and place them safely in your notebook for future use. Come test day, you won’t have to fight the huge line at the bookstore. Instead, you can relax in the classroom while doing some last minute studying. Also, some places sell scantrons cheaper in bulk. The Bookstore website lists testing supplies at $0.15 to $1.79.

10. Phone (or other preferred electronic) charger – while there are charging stations on campus, it can be convenient to plug your own into a computer or wall, wherever you are. Just don’t forget to unplug it after you are done!

11. Antibacterial Hand Gel – Odds are you will get sick at least once this school year. Murphy’s law says around midterms or finals. Try to reduce your chances of illness by washing your hands with soap and warm water before you eat, go to the bathroom, touch your face and after coming in from outside or being exposed to your sick roommate.

Bath and Bodyworks sells 1 oz pocket sized antibacterial hand gels for five for $5.

12. Your textbooks – It sound obvious, but yes you will need them. You can maybe skip that APA/ MLA stylistic book if you already have 12 other versions, but be prepared to go to the Writing Center and pay attention to what your teacher wants in an essay format.

Recently more teachers have been using online resources in an effort to lower student costs. If you can load your books onto a kindle or tablet, you will have to lug less around. Many textbooks are offered in less expensive ebook versions. Sometimes textbooks can be cheaper on Amazon, Slugbooks or Chegg. Many of these websites along with the campus Bookstore offer rentals.

13. A sense of direction and a free moment – Spare some time to get cozy with a map or find someone who is familiar with the CSUSM campus. Stop by your professor’s office during office hours to make a good impression. Ask them questions about class and your career ideas. They offer a wealth of knowledge and may share your interests.

With good intentions and determined planning this school year can be a successful one. These items may help to make it easier.