On Aug. 13, 2025, summer concluded and Dragons welcomed a new year at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). Yet, the chaos began even before that: back-to-school shopping. From new school supplies to fresh clothes, students scrambled to restock essentials and replenish wardrobes. With stores all over advertising sales, hoping to attract more customers, it is no surprise that the once-full shelves of pencils, notebooks and backpacks are now empty. However, back-to-school shopping is so much more than just mass purchasing.
With new beginnings come new styles. Apart from the necessary items, it is apparent that clothing plays a huge role in starting the new school year. Dragons rushed to their favorite stores in search of an exciting look to spice up their closet, even if it was as simple as a fun new shirt.
Lucianna Franco ‘29 went into depth about the “why” for back-to-school shopping, stating that “people’s style[s] change, [so] it’s always nice to have new outfits.” She, like many others at school, always gets excited about shopping for new jeans, particularly at Target.
Much like Franco, Nate Frazier ‘27 enjoys searching for items at Target. However, he is primarily focused on supplies such as notebooks and pencils. Feeling like he had too many clothes already, his back-to-school shopping looked more like an academic restock. He also noted his preference for in-store shopping over online because he feels it’s very easy to “go overboard” when looking electronically, namely Amazon.
Apart from the dangers of overconsumption through online stores, students also expressed that it is simply easier to find nice clothing if they could physically see and feel it. In doing so, they know for sure if the item is a perfect fit before buying it.
“I don’t like online shopping because I just don’t know what the item is going to be like until I get it,” Olivia Pamplona ‘28 said, pointing out how much simpler it is to go into stores to get the feel of it before purchasing.
Apart from where to shop comes questions of when the best timing is. Erika Peoples ‘26 says that she shops “a week before, or maybe [even] the day before.” Shopping before school starts allows students a chance to go into the new year with a style that gives them confidence.
A chaotic new year means a campus buzzing with renewed excitement. When new clothes and materials are bought, it opens up a door for students to continue to pursue confidence while growing closer to the most authentic version of themselves.
