What’s in Dalhousie students’ bags?

We asked Dalhousie students to lay out all the possessions they prize enough to lug from place to place. Nothing says more about a person than the trinkets — or lack thereof — that they forget are buried at the bottom of their satchel. 

Maeve Cuthbert-Shore – fifth-year biology and creative writing combined honours

“I was just given these sticky notes while I was studying because I said I was in a bad mood. My friend made them, and I put them on my laptop screen, and then I came to scan my shit.”

Yulan Farias – second-year biology major

“You know when you’re having a bad day, and you look in the mirror and you have a bunch of lint on your sweater? And you don’t have a lint roller? Well, here you go. Now, I have a lint roller in my bag. I want to look un-linty. I like to have clean clothes.”

Isabelle Wong – fourth-year contemporary studies and English double major

“My fish knife was a gift from my mother. I always keep it on my keychain. You would think that a pocket knife shaped as a fish would not come in handy, but many times somebody has needed to open something, and I’ve had my fish knife.”

Lia Ashkenas – fourth-year contemporary studies and philosophy double major

“My dad’s friend makes these mints. So many different types of mints, he’s like the candyman. I get them sometimes for free.”

Elise Booth – fourth-year sociology major

“There was a band at this reception I was working at, and I talked to some guy [in the band]. I told him I was trying to learn guitar, and he said, ‘Oh, I can teach you how to play guitar. Add me on Facebook. My name’s Jimmy Inch.’ Then he gave me his guitar pick. It says, ‘Jimmy Inch’ on it.”

Alex Grose – second-year commerce student

“Here we got some socks that have been sitting at the bottom of my bag for probably two weeks now. Forgot to take those ones out. I ripped my old Dal socks; there’s a massive hole in the toe.”

Lilah MacDougall – second-year film and acting double major

“My neighbour at my cottage gave me and my sister these custom-made cards that have a picture of us in the boat, so she wrote a little note for us. It’s super sweet. I get to think of all the times we’ve gone to her place and played with these cards.”