Hello my little backpacks, welcome to the first Friday Open Thread of September! I know not everyone who reads this website is actually going back to school right now – for many of you this is probably just a regular Friday, just the first week of September, just another moment in time to wonder “should I use that frozen salmon in the freezer for dinner this week or should I keep saving it just incase?” – but no matter what I’m up to in my life, I can’t help but feel like September is back to school season. Do you know what I mean? There’s something in the air.

Wow I wish my back to school style was as cool as the Pink Ladies in Grease 2, did y’all know Michelle Pfeiffer in that movie is my root?

That said, this is the first September in nine years that I actually am going back to school! It’s wild! I just started an MFA program at Sarah Lawrence and I’ve spent the week at orientation. Honestly, it’s been a little bit overwhelming – so many new people, so much new information, so many opportunities for anxiety and self-doubt already… it’s a lot. And classes haven’t even started yet!

Here I am on my third day of orientation, realizing I’m absolutely not going to have time for a social life this year!

There’s so much basic stuff about being a student that I sort of forgot about and am now trying to figure out quickly. How much sleep do I need? (More, I think, than when I was 18 and an undergrad!) How can I take care of myself in this new life? (Al(aina)’s got us covered.) What backpack will look cute and also be functional? (This one, I think.) Which notebooks should I use for class? Which pens? (Lucky for me we published a round table about school supplies yesterday!) Since Bullet Journaling didn’t work out for me (after so much excitement about it in January I fell off the wagon in May, I’m sorry), which planner should I get? (According to almost the entire Autostraddle staff, I’d say the answer to this is probably a Passion Planner, yeah?) How many extracurriculars are too many extracurriculars? Where’s the best place for me to get my work done? What do I wear to class? Should I put stickers on my new laptop or will I regret it? Will I ever find a cute laptop case? How do I get into a good habit of putting myself to bed? IS GRAD SCHOOL GOING TO BE THE THING THAT FINALLY MAKES ME START DRINKING COFFEE, EVEN THOUGH I REALLY HATE THE TASTE AND DO NOT WANT TO DRINK IT?!

Here I am on the first day of Kindergarten, rocking Power Ranger pants, a denim jacket, and an extremely cute backpack.

I’d love to hear from those of you who are in school right now, whether you’re three years into your PhD program or slogging through your junior year of high school or starting your freshman year of undergrad. What’s on your mind? What backpack are you gonna use this year? (Can you tell I’m taking this backpack situation extremely seriously?!) What are your best study tips? What are you excited to learn about? What are you dreading? Is it “back to school weather” where you live or are you also melting in 95 degree humidity? Show me a photo of your back to school outfit! Let’s talk about school stuff!

And of course, even if you’re not a student, I wanna chat! Tell me about your week, your autumn plans, your favorite way to cook that salmon in the freezer! Tell me about your hopes and dreams and the mundane details of your life that make up our universe. I wanna hear it all.

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