It’s the Little Things that Say It All

Photos by Eliza Krotinger ’26

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Leah Song ’27

Every morning at NMH, the hallway is filled with the shuffling footsteps of half-awake students carrying the weight of backpacks on their shoulders as they rush to class. There are various shapes and types of trinkets: some that are medium-large with cute characters, and some with tougher designs of soccer team logos or medals. The dangling sound of trinkets on backpacks is heard everyday around campus. Observing different backpacks creates a window exposing students’ personalities through something as simple as a trinket.

Trinkets in my backpack add a “personality” that seems quirky yet ornamental. It adds an extra element to the backpack that gives its unique style. I have a name tag, a grey bunny trinket, and a white bear trinket that has an initial “L” of my name that my friend gave to me.

Similarly, Cherrie Ma ’28 is a two-year sophomore at NMH. On her backpack, you will see a set of Japanese charm-shaped trinkets that she carries; each has a different meaning, which she believes brings her good luck and makes her feel connected to her home in Tokyo.

One of Ma’s trinkets is an Omamori, a small fabric-wrapped amulet often sold at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples that represents forms of luck and protection.

“Whenever I see my key chains, it makes me feel homesick about being back in Tokyo,” she said. “But it also brings me hope and joy to continue moving forward during my time at NMH.”

Illustrations by Kimberly Chen ’26

Sanrio characters are a big aspect of Japanese culture. Ma also has a Hello Kitty keychain to add a sense of innocence and “kawaiiness” (cuteness in Japanese) to her backpack. These subtle senses of girlishness and adorableness are also evident in Ma’s upbeat and sunshiny personality.

Tina Wu ’27 is a three-year junior at NMH. I first met Wu when we were freshmen, and she always astounded me with her own aesthetic style.

Her subtle details in every accessory, from beaded bracelets and chains to the small trinkets she carries in her backpack, reveal how much Wu is passionate about staying on trend. She enjoys expressing herself through a casual yet trendy style, often finding her inspiration on TikTok.

Wu’s favorite trinket she carries in her backpack, is a lip balm-shaped keychain that has a tiny mirror. Her roommate gave it to her. The lip balm keychain not only makes her backpack look more aesthetically pleasing. It’s also convenient. She uses lip balm daily.

“It is nice to have a lip balm attached to my bag, as I’m always able to use it in case I forgot to bring one,” she said.

Christina Leonelli is a faculty member in the psychology department and the associate director of admissions at NMH. She loves to ensure her fashion is well put together, to make her feel confident and better throughout the day.

Leonili prefers to wear business casual outfits incorporated with various types of jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, and even watches, to make her outfit look less “basic” or “boring.”

When I met Leonili for the first time, she was wearing a burgundy trench coat paired with dark navy jeans, which gave off a formal and elegant style.

“I’m most comfortable in wearing a plain white t-shirt or any type of plain shirt with a pair of jeans,” she said. “It makes me feel not only comfortable and cozy, but also presentable and put together in public.”

Leonelli wears a watch on her wrist that adds a more luxurious look to her style. Her watch is sophisticated and can be used in many different ways. “It’s a Garmin watch, where I can flip the design to make it look like a regular watch,” she said. “I use it to work out and keep track of my steps and check where I’ve been on campus.”

Leonili’s style has shifted since coming to NMH because she has to wear more comfortable shoes. She’s been investing in some fun sneakers, like Sambas, or maroon-colored boots that match the NMH logo color. “I have been wearing more NMH colors by incorporating more maroon or navy colors in my fashion.”

“The cool thing about fashion is that having a sense of style is unique to yourself, but it also influences the people around your sphere, and the whole community,” Leonili said. She’s eager to continue exploring and finding her own sense of style and share a part of her identity with the NMH community — Like the small accessories and trinkets she carries on her backpack, her fashion choices carry implicit stories — each one with a captivating personality that inspires others to add their own charms to their individuality.