My name is Kristjana Young and I am a secondary school teacher in the Coquitlam school district, currently completing my 3rd and 4th courses of the MET program. For this exercise I picked the bag that I carry around all day. To and from work, and while completing errands. This bag carries my necessities for work and leisure and represents my responsibilities, hobbies, and is a glimpse into who I am.
Some items this bag includes are:
- Cell phone
- Laptop
- Wallet
- 2 sets of keys
- A cosmetics/medical items bag with items such as a toothbrush, Tylenol, etc
- Sunglasses
- Dog treats
- Nespresso coffee pods
- Hand sanitizer and lip balm
- Granola bar
These items speak to who I am as well as the activities I engage in. Dog treats (and my dog who wanted a treat) show I am a dog owner. This also represents my need for physical activity and being in the outdoors. I often find dog treats in different pockets and it reminds me of these times with her which I really enjoy. My key lanyards are both representative of different times in my life. One of the school I am currently teaching, and one of UBC, the school I currently attend. Additionally it connects to one of the areas I most dedicated myself to, basketball. This UBC athletics lanyard is a reminder of the time and energy I put into competing at the university level in basketball and these spark amazing memories of my time playing. I then was lucky enough to compete for team Canada junior teams and finally end my career playing professionally in Germany. Now my basketball days are behind me while I turn my focus to volunteering at the high school level, connecting me to not only my students but also my past.
My laptop is my connection to my responsibilities both at work and in school. I carry this around and find time to complete necessary work during down time. The Nespresso pods also indicate coffee is a necessity as both a student and teacher! As I am always on the go I need to ensure I have coffee travelling with me as well as a quick snack.
The text technologies in my bag are numerous. They include my iphone, laptop and ear buds (not pictured). These text technologies show that I interact more with digital texts and communication. I definitely listen to podcasts and audio books more than I would read or write text on paper. Those articles I do read for school are all transported through my laptop. There are more subtle examples of text technologies all throughout my wallet on the different cards and receipts. Although even much of the purchasing or commercial engagement I participate in is done through my cell phone or computer applications. For example, ordering my Nespresso pods is done through digital apps and communication.
15 years ago most people’s bags would have had less advanced technology such as laptops or cell phones. The ones they would have may have been larger and heavier or would be replaced with notebooks, pens/pencils, and erasers. My personal bag would be traded in for an athletic bag. My laptop would be replaced with basketball shoes and a water bottle and a notebook filled with goals and training plans. My social calendar would be replaced with tournaments, training sessions, and physiotherapy appointments. It is exciting to think about the changes over the last 15 years. What will my bag look like in the next 15 years? How will technology have changed?
I think the private contents of my bag are similar to the narrative I have of myself and the image I outwardly project. I am an organized, hardworking, and social person. I think my laptop, telephone, and receipts would portray this image accurately. However this picture is just a glimpse or snapshot into one’s life, there is of course more complexity to people than the items in their bag.