South seniors participate in the senior backpack trend. Photo by Diana Flores-Hernandez.

Have you noticed that seniors are swapping out their usual bags for kids’ backpacks? 

The trend first took off on TikTok, but many South High seniors say it’s more than just a silly fad. What started as a fun way to bring back childhood memories has grown into a rite of passage for the class of 2026. 

For most seniors, the first time they saw the trend was years ago. “I heard about it my freshman year,” Selene Orozco Moreno said. “I heard about it on social media a while back, but I’ve also noticed seniors doing it throughout my years in high school,” Diana Flores Hernandez shared. 

Now that they’re seniors themselves, they finally get the chance to pick out their own backpack. Nathalia Linares Flores said she chose a pink, sparkly Barbie backpack because it reminds her of her childhood. “When I was little, I was obsessed with Barbie. I even had a whole collection of Barbie dolls.” 

Others leaned toward a more humorous style with seniors mentioning they’ve seen a “literal hamburger-shaped” backpack and another that looks “exactly like a brown McDonald’s bag.” 

Whether it’s Barbie or a burger-shaped bag, seniors agree that the backpacks aren’t just funny accessories. “I think seniors doing this trend marks an important stage in our lives,” Monica Hernandez Pena explained. “It feels like one more way to be a kid before we have to be adults.” 

So, while the trend may look playful on the outside, for the class members of 2026, it’s a final chance to relive their childhood memories before graduation.