Every August, students flock to stores to purchase countless colorful folders, stacks of spiral notebooks, and packs of pens–yet many will sit untouched, gathering dust in desk drawers and the backs of closets.
The ritual of back-to-school shopping is one that nearly every student at North Allegheny participates in, whether it be through picking out a new backpack or choosing a planner to represent the start of the new academic year. It brings a sense of excitement to students everywhere, but that excitement comes at a hidden cost, one we rarely pause to consider.
Every year, students are encouraged to buy more than is truly necessary, habitualizing a cycle of overconsumption that leads to environmental and financial consequences that often remain overlooked.
“Once I totaled everything up—supplies, clothes, shoes, a new backpack—I think I must have spent around $400. It all added up really fast,” said one NASH student who asked to remain anonymous.
The rise in this trend of overconsumption during this time of year is largely fueled by advertising, social media, and even peer pressure. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok turn back-to-school shopping into a spectacle, where “haul” videos encourage students to buy far more than they truly need. This creates an environment in which shopping becomes less about necessity and more about fitting in.
Parents also feel the weight of this pressure. According to one survey, 66% of parents admit to being willing to go into debt just to help their children fit in at school. This rate was highest among younger generations, with Gen Z parents being over 20% more likely to overspend compared to Gen X parents.
Another survey reveals that shoppers who use social media spend nearly twice as much money as shoppers who refrain from using such platforms, relaying just how much power influencers can hold over consumers. Moreover, half of millennials and 75% of Gen Z parents use social media in their back-to-school shopping, demonstrating its widespread impact.
For students, this cycle of repeatedly observing overconsumption online can warp their perspective of what is legitimately essential versus what is trendy.
“NA is really competitive in general, and sometimes it feels like that academic pressure spills over to other areas, too,” said senior Margot Anderson. “You don’t want to be the only one showing up wearing the same exact clothes as last year.”
In addition to financial consequences, overconsumption can have momentous effects on the environment. Fast fashion items purchased for the new school year, ranging from trendy shoes to the latest styles of clothes, are major contributors to global carbon emissions, the industry generating over 11 tons of textile waste annually.
Admittedly, not all back-to-school shopping is inherently wasteful. Students must replace clothes that have been outgrown, restock necessary supplies, and gather materials that will allow them to succeed academically.
Shopping can also act as an exciting experience that marks the fresh start to the year. But this raises a key question for young buyers: in a world driven by consumerism, how can students and teens distinguish between what they truly need and what is futile excess?
Even beyond online pressure and environmental concerns, overconsumption during the back-to-school season reflects a deeper growing societal pattern. For many students, purchasing supplies and clothes is no longer a response to necessity but an expected practice to be completed during the fall season.
Schools can unintentionally reinforce this habit, issuing extensive supply lists or offering branded merchandise. Over time, this repetition shapes behavior, making excess and overindulgence seem an ordinary part of everyday life.
For students and parents, this season presents an opportunity to pause and examine their own choices. Are purchases being driven by genuine necessity, or are they part of an unconscious, ingrained routine? Recognizing the habitual nature of back-to-school shopping is the first step toward more intentional and thoughtful purchasing practices.
While it is a longstanding tradition, before buying new school supplies, students and families should assess what remains usable from the past year, reducing unnecessary purchases and waste.
Back-to-school shopping is not inherently harmful, but when absentmindedly repeated annually by millions, it carries significant environmental consequences. Therefore, the most effective way to prepare for the new school year may not be to shop, but to pause and let conscious choices guide both our routines and impact on the world.
_______________________________
Editors’ note: All opinions expressed on The Uproar are a reflection solely of the beliefs of the bylined author and not the journalism program at NASH. We continue to welcome school-appropriate comments and guest articles.
