What’s in Their Bag is a recurring feature where The Daily’s Photo Desk takes a visual deep dive into the life of a person by unpacking their bag with them. We are discovering what ’Cats collect and carry with them. This week, we are spotlighting McCormick first-year Diego Claure, a student whose bag reflects fitness, practicality and unconventionality. You can contact the photo editor by emailing [email protected] 

McCormick first-year Diego Claure’s backpack contains gym clothes, notebooks, prayer cards, lacrosse balls and a Batman mask. Claure said the items reflect his daily routine and personality. 

Claure chose a Herschel Supply Co. backpack, which he said is “reliable, not too expensive and it’s basic.”

“I don’t like the bags with too many pockets because then … I forget where I put my things,” he said. “I bought it towards the end of high school because I knew I was going to college, and I needed a new one.” 

Claure said he always has gym clothes and a water bottle in his backpack and tries to work out everyday. Other regulars in his backpack include his computer, iPad and notebooks for class. 

Claure said he tries to go to the gym everyday, a motivation stemming from his involvement with Northwestern’s club volleyball team. He also played volleyball throughout high school.

Apart from the gym, Claure said he “like(s) to move around a lot” during his day, which he said is why he keeps two lacrosse balls in his backpack.

He said he got the idea to keep lacrosse balls in his backpack from one of his favorite movies, “Rocky,” where the main character tosses similar balls. 

Claure’s love for movies manifests elsewhere in his backpack. Along with his everyday essentials, he has carried a Batman mask since Halloween. He said he always has this mask on him “just in case people need help.”

Claure said he started carrying the Batman mask around in college because he was confident people in high school didn’t need help, but in college they might. 

While some items in Claure’s backpack reflect his sense of humor, others are more personal. In the front pocket of his backpack, he carries two prayer cards of La Virgen del Carmen with a pendant he said keeps him safe. 

“I carry this around because my mom gave it to me before I came to college,” he said. “It’s supposed to protect me wherever I am, whenever I need it.” 

To finish off his collection of unusual items, Claure also carries a small rubber duck and a lighter. He said the rubber duck was a gift from McCormick Prof. Connor Bain, and he likes to talk to it throughout the day.  

Claure added he keeps a lighter in his bag because someone once told him that “the best conversations are when they’re smoking a cigarette outside,” even though he said he does not smoke.  

Email: [email protected] 

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