With back-to-school season just around the corner, Samsung Electronics America decided to get the scoop on essential technology straight from the source: middle, high school, and college students. We asked three students which technologies they simply can’t live without and how it enhances their educational experience.

Among the three students are one Samsung summer intern, Marissa Drange, from Trinity University, and Arthur Lee from Stillwater Middle School, and Kaitlyn Thede from Wilton Jr-Sr High School, both alumni of Samsung’s national Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which will be kicking off in August.

As digital natives, these Gen Z and Gen Alpha students revealed their favorite gadgets and shared all the cool ways they use them to stay organized, work with classmates, and ace their studies. And, by showcasing their viewpoints, Samsung shines a light on how important technology has become in modern education.

Marissa Drange

Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas)
  • Essential Back-to-School Gear: “The most essential piece of technology for back to school is a laptop like the Galaxy Book4 Edge – with an assist from the M8 Smart Monitor. In this digital world, it is extremely rare that I complete an assignment on paper. Everything is done through our university portal, called Canvas. I even take notes electronically because it is so easy to track and maintain total organization. Being a student-athlete, managing my time is crucial so I access my calendar on my laptop to make sure I stay on top of everything.”
  • Harnessing Tech for Academic & Athletic Excellence: “Technology is an essential part of keeping myself organized. I take class notes, keep track of due dates, organize my school and athletic calendar, and complete all my assignments on my laptop. I also love wearing a smartwatch like the Galaxy Watch6 because it allows me to multitask and not miss a beat. It is helpful in my athletic career because of the fitness and health benefits. During workouts, the smartwatch tracks my heart rate,1 calories burned, total steps, and so much more. This is extremely useful to make sure that I am properly fueling and taking care of my body to perform at the collegiate level. Additionally, with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and their excellent sound quality, I can rock to music during training sessions, enhancing my focus and performance.”
  • Technology Transformation in Education: “Growing up, technology was present in my classrooms, however prior to the 2020 pandemic, there wasn’t an overreliance on tech. This completely changed my sophomore year of high school when everything completely shifted to online learning. Ever since then, the classroom environment has changed. In college, technology is an integral part of our learning experience. Us students put a lot of expectations on our technology, and electronics have become an innate part of learning. Technology is a game-changer for mine and future generations!”

Looking to shop Marissa’s must-have back to school tech?

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Arthur Lee

Stillwater Middle School (Stillwater, Minnesota)
  • Essential Back-to-School Gear: “A computer, such as a Galaxy Book or even a Galaxy Tab, is important for my schoolwork since many things in school are digital now and I rely on a laptop to access those resources.”
  • Harnessing Tech for Academic Excellence: “Google Drive, with access to Slides and Docs, allow me to collaborate with my classmates to work on group projects and other tasks. Also, I use my Google calendar to help me organize my school assignments’ due dates and remember important dates (like the first day of school on August 27th!).”
  • Future Tech Feature Wishlist: “I think someone should invent a feature to automatically organize documents and files into folders, using a system that scans a file to determine where to place it. This feature would make creating new documents easier, as you wouldn’t have to manually place them into a folder or create a new one.”

Ready to shop Arthur’s favorite tech?

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Kaitlyn Thede

Wilton Jr-Sr High School (Wilton, Iowa)
  • Essential Back-to-School Gear: “As I think about the upcoming school year, it’s essential to find the right tech and tools to help organize my life and accomplish different tasks. One piece of technology I will rely heavily on is the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra. This device is not only functional but also very user-friendly and easy to navigate. I particularly love the extended keypad and the large mouse pad. Using this device has made completing high school assignments – soon-to-be college work – much easier. I depend on it and its sharp display screen to update websites, video and photo editing, and many other highly visual tasks. What’s also great is that it pairs seamlessly with a Galaxy smartphone, specifically the brand-new Galaxy Z Flip6. So, users can pretty much transfer photos and videos from their phone to laptop in a snap!”
  • Harnessing Tech for Academic Excellence: “I tend to spend a lot of time using technology both in and out school. From taking notes to writing papers and doing college assignments, my Galaxy Book has been a lifesaver. It’s helped me create schedules, organize events, and complete and submit my schoolwork. Basically, the laptop keeps me organized so I can stay on top of all of my work.”

Want to shop Kaitlyn’s back to school wishlist?

If you’re gearing up for the busy back-to-school season, make sure your new tech is protected with help from Samsung Care. Have peace of mind knowing that when the unexpected happens, we’re here with the #1 quality and service coverage.3

And now through August 26, teachers, parents and administrators that are part of our Education Offers Program4 can take their new device protection to the next level with 30% off Samsung Care+ for select PCs, tablets, watches and buds.5

Visit Samsung.com for details on the latest offers and click here to get the most out of your new tech this summer.

EPP (all)
1 The heart rate software functions are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.
2 7/15/24 – 7/28/24, while supplies last, on samsung.com or Samsung Shop App, purchase a new select Galaxy Book4 Edge device (“Qualifying Purchase”) and receive a Samsung 43″ Smart Monitor M7 on us (“Promotional Product”). Products must be purchased simultaneously using the add-on selection within the GB4 Edge buy page. If you return or cancel your Qualifying Purchase, you must return the Promotional Product with your Qualifying Purchase or pay for the Promotional Product in full. The Promotional Product is non-transferable and limited to 1 per Qualifying Purchase. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
3 According to 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) Survey. Among leading smart phone manufacturers (in-warranty authorized locations only); based on population within 30 min. drive of walk-in service center or home van service center ($30 home van service fee).
4 Samsung.com sign in required for purchases and may require additional verification of your program eligibility. Visit Samsung.com for more.
5 Through 8/26/2024, teachers, parents and administrators that are a part of our Education Offers Program purchase a new select , while supplies last, and enroll in a Samsung Care+ service plan (“Qualifying purchase”) and receive 30% off of the Samsung Care+ coverage. For monthly pay options, you must provide an approved payment method to your Samsung account and authorize monthly recurring payments for your Samsung Care+ service plan. You may cancel your Samsung Care+ service plan at any time by contacting the point of your Samsung Care+ plan purchase (samsung.com, Samsung Experience Store, samsungcareplus.com) or by emailing samsungmxcare@servify.tech. Samsung Care+ coverage is subject to its terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, service fees and deductibles, see details here. This offer may not be combined with other Samsung Care+ offers or retroactively applied. Samsung reserves the right to modify this promotional offer at any time by posting notice on the Samsung app or website.
6For a limited time only, on Samsung.com/Shop Samsung App, or purchase a new qualifying Galaxy device (“Qualifying Purchase”), send in your qualifying trade-in device to Samsung through the Samsung Trade-In Program, and if Samsung determines your trade-in device meets all eligibility requirements, you will receive a trade-in credit specific to your qualifying trade-in device to apply toward your Qualifying Purchase. Device models that currently qualify for trade-in and trade-in credit amounts associated with those models are available on Samsung.com and the Shop Samsung App; eligible models and amounts may change at Samsung’s sole discretion. To be eligible for trade-in, your qualifying device must meet all Trade-In Program eligibility requirements, which include, but are not limited to, that the device powers on, holds a charge, and does not power off unexpectedly; has a functioning display; has no breaks or cracks in the screen (unless a cracked screen offer applies); has no breaks or cracks in the case; has no liquid damage (whether visible or not); has no other defects that go beyond normal wear and tear; is not on a black list; has a verified FCC ID; has been reset to factory settings; has all personal information removed; has all software locks disabled; and is owned by you (leased devices are not eligible). Anticipated trade-in value will be applied as a credit at time of purchase, but, if you do not send in your trade-in device within 15 days of receipt of your Qualifying Purchase, you will be charged back for the trade-in credit applied to your purchase, or if you send in your trade-in device within 15 days of receipt of your Qualifying Purchase but Samsung determines your device does not meet all eligibility requirements, you will be charged back for the trade-in credit applied to your purchase minus $25. Participation in this program does not excuse you from contracts with your carrier or retailer (or any related payments or fees) for the device that was traded in. Limit 1 trade-in per Qualifying Purchase. Samsung reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time. The Trade-In Program cannot be combined with any other Samsung, carrier or retailer promotions, discounts, or offers unless specifically provided for in the terms and conditions of such offers. Additional terms, including terms that govern the resolution of disputes, apply.
7 7/10 – 7/23, while supplies last, pre-order and purchase a 512GB* Galaxy Z Fold6, 1TB Galaxy Z Fold6, or 512GB Galaxy Z Flip6 (“Qualifying Purchase”) for the price of the next lowest storage model at Samsung.com or the Shop Samsung app. The discount will be automatically applied at checkout. This offer is non transferrable and limited to 1 per Qualifying Purchase. If you return or cancel your purchase the discount will be lost. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Samsung reserves the right to modify or discontinue offers at any time by posting a notice on the app or website.