Freshie “Things to Bring” you wish you knew were needed

Jude Aldrich Allaga

Did you know that ballpens, yellow pads, and correction tapes aren’t the only needs in a freshie’s “things to bring?” As dreams and expectations weigh heavier than the school bag, we realize there are things beyond the bookstore that freshmen (like me) must carry for the next four years.  

Instant noodles

Kapag miss ko na ang mainit na sopas ni Mama. 

When the new crowd feels cold and overbearing, nothing hits like the warm embrace of instant noodles around your tongue—scalding but familiar. While it may never level with Mama’s home-cooked chicken soup, brewed with extra love and tanginess on a late-night fever, that immediate, adrenaline-pumping sabaw just touches the soul: gastronomic, nostalgic, and filling, packaged together in a five-minute feast.  But it doesn’t just soothe the stomach—instant noodles are petsa de peligro lifesavers when the adulthood financial crisis leaves a bitter taste on your tongue.

Flashlight

Kapag miss ko na ang paggabay ni Papa.

When the afternoon reviews fade into midnight cramming sessions, and your eyes are fighting to stay open, nothing compares to Papa’s guidance when you’re on the brink. “‘Nak, bakit ka palaging puyat? Wala namang naghahabol sa’yo,” among my father’s wise words I wish I had taken to heart. Then, instantly, the Eureka moment flashes bright: the late-night crunch seemed much lighter with my father staying up by my side, quietly watching until I finally dozed off.

Hotdog pillow

Kapag miss ko na ang malambing na yakap ni Bestie. 

When the terror prof leaves your GWA hanging on a thread, the softest hotdog pillow would never escape your grip, just like how my long-distance best friend would never pull back from my embrace. Warm, receptive, and a steady shoulder to cry on, the hot dog pillow could only wish to measure up to Bestie’s versatility: therapist, comedian, and nurse who is always one call away.

Panyo

Kapag hindi ko na kayang tiisin ang iniipong luha.

When the pressures of adulthood and university life converge into an overwhelming storm, and the floodgates demand release, sometimes my handkerchief will be the only thing wiping my tears — no shoulder to cry on, no bucket to catch the downpour of emotions. It turns out that loneliness is more than just a canon event, but an everyday experience, especially for those whose dorms become their uninviting homes.

Camera

Kasi isang beses lang ako magkokolehiyo.

When the piece of paper I’ll be toiling for my last four years finally finds my fingertips, I hope to look out into the crowd and find the same faces in my gallery: a mosaic of college memories, friends, and ephemeral moments that I’ll never experience again. While the journey feels uncertain, obscure, and even terrifying right now, I hope to never look back and say, “I wish I had taken more pictures.” 

Perhaps my school bag isn’t the only thing that needs to be prepared for the first day of classes; I need to save space for the courage to take on a new chapter in my life while carrying the memories of those who have supported my journey here.

So, take a breath and save yourself some space—maybe the most important things to bring in college are those that cannot fit within a backpack.