Heavy backpacks break backs

In Sycamore Junior High School, students were forced to carry around class materials without the use of backpacks. At the time, that may have seemed cumbersome. However, backpacks may do more harm than good. Photo Courtesy: Brenda Shen — In Sycamore Junior High School, students were forced to carry around class materials without the use of backpacks. At the time, that may have seemed cumbersome. However, backpacks may do more harm than good. Photo courtesy of Brenda Shen.

Transitioning into high school, most students would feel the advantage of carrying around their textbooks, but they also grow accustomed to an unhealthy habit.

“Backpacks can be really heavy. During the last week of first quarter, mine was so heavy that I decided to weigh it. It turned out to be 48 pounds,” said Megan Sulfsted, 11.

A backpack that is too heavy can cause muscle and tissue problems. The neck, shoulder, and back are extremely susceptible to injury and damage.

Another issue that can pose a risk to students is that locker bays are so far from most students’ classes that they do not have the time to drop off materials until lunch.

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“My large backpack is mostly my own fault, but I don’t have time to go to my locker in between bells because I prefer to talk to my friends and teachers before class starts,” said Karin Oh, 12.

Some solutions to lighter backpacks are:

Choosing a quality backpack
Pack only what needs to be carried
Pack the heaviest items at the bottom
Organize subject materials
Store items in lockers

According to Atlanta Sports Medicine Program (ASMP), narrower straps can dig into muscles and pinch a nerve. They recommend buying backpacks with wider straps.

“I think the problem is that sometimes it’s not possible for students to have a light backpack because of a heavy homework load,” said Maya Sheth, 10.

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About the Contributor

Caroline Gao, Executive Editor-in-Chief

Hi! My name is Caroline Gao and I’m a senior here at Sycamore High School. This is my fourth year on staff. As a part of The Leaf, our national award-winning, student-run publication, I hold the position of Executive Editor-in-Chief. My duties include overseeing the production of all four of our platforms: print newsmagazine, online magazine, website, and broadcast department. I enjoy exploring multiple genres and thus have written a multitude of articles including feature, opinion, news, and sports. I also take great pride in designing pages [Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator] and editing/shooting videos [Windows Movie Maker and Adobe Premiere]. I can’t wait for another amazing year with my fellow journalists! More about myself: I find volunteering to be extremely rewarding: I play piano as a volunteer musical therapist at Bethesda North Hospital and am the Treasurer for Sycamore’s National Honor Society, the largest organization at the high school. I am also a mentor for my school’s Fast Track tutoring program! In addition to volunteering, I also captain Sycamore’s Varsity A tennis team, and in the offseason, play at a local club and in USTA tournaments. This past season, our team placed as State Runners-up in the OHSAA State Team Tournament! I also really enjoy music- especially the piano. Quote to live by: “No one ever achieved greatness by playing it safe” - Harry Gray.