ODYSSEY Media Group Beat Editor Gretchen Hinger completes schoolwork with her favorite flower pen on June 15, 2009. Hinger found her love for school supplies in elementary school and has used them to find joy in school. Photo courtesy of Shawn Hinger
I sit down for my first class of the day, pulling out my blue and white pencil pouch that I meticulously selected from Amazon to perfectly fit my abundance of pens and pencils.
I carefully select my favorite light blue Paper Mate InkJoy fine tip pen and set it to work. My hand glides across the paper as I transfer my teacher’s lesson into the masterpiece also known as my notes.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved school supplies. I have acquired every color of pen, pencil, highlighter and marker throughout my life. I’ve cultivated my collection over my past 13 years of schooling with some of my school supplies dating back to my kindergarten year.
This ongoing obsession has given me a unique outlook on school, viewing it as a creative space rather than a mindless cycle of work. By perfectly selecting a specific color for my notes, the heading, the bullet points and the definitions, I can fully immerse myself in the knowledge coming at me rather than letting it pass right by.
Being so invested in my school supplies has allowed me to change the stereotypical school experience to something more interesting, something worthwhile.
I have seen so many people go through their life not enjoying school, feeling like they’re not learning anything, and usually thinking that it won’t help them in the future.
At one point I felt the same way. I didn’t know how I could stick to this endless cycle of classes every day. But with the joy I feel while using my school supplies, I have been able to think about the positive side of schooling. Each lesson is an opportunity to express myself, to try something new, rather than just another class.
By finding joy in such a small thing as the supplies I use, I am able to gain all of the benefits of my education with a more positive mindset.
