Back To School and Beyond: How a NASA Intern Uses His TOM BIHN Bag

Maia Hamilton
2024-09-13T12:36:00-07:00

What do designing games and helping humanity live on the moon have in common?

More than you’d expect.

My journey from a Dungeons & Dragons-obsessed high schooler to being an intern at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has been full of unexpected turns, but one thing has remained constant: my Synik 30 backpack.

But first, we need to take a step back and introduce ourselves. My name is William Hamilton and I am a current student at Ohio University, pursuing a major in Media Arts and Studies through the Honors Tutorial College. When I’m not studying I enjoy designing computer games, hiking, and playing D&D.

In my senior year of high school I received the Synik 30 as a Christmas gift – a high-quality backpack that I would use throughout my college years. Before this gift, I’d actually never used a backpack for school, as my high school didn’t allow large bags. However, the Synik 30 quickly became my go-to backpack when I arrived at Ohio University.

For example, when I often headed to a Dungeons and Dragons session with friends, my Synik 30 easily carried my laptop, three large D&D manuals, notebooks, a pencil case, a marker case, and even large maps that I would roll up and have sticking out of the top. The amount of storage space in this bag is incredible, but the Synik 30 has been great for far more than my D&D sessions and coursework. This bag has accompanied me on countless adventures, from airports to hiking trails, theme parks, and even down into some caves.

One of its most impressive feats occurred during a weeklong trip to Disney World. I managed to pack everything I needed into this one bag: seven days' worth of clothes, toiletries, tech essentials (which is a pretty substantive list for me), and even my water bottle, all without struggle. This level of functionality meant that when I started college and only had a laptop and a book inside, the bag felt so light that I often thought I had forgotten something.

During my first two years at Ohio University, I didn’t have a car. I walked an average of five kilometers each day between classes, and after two years of this daily wear and tear, my Synik 30 showed no signs of damage. There were no holes, no frays—just a durable, reliable bag that had proven its worth time and time again.

But my backpack isn’t the only thing that’s evolved over the years. A few months ago, I took a leap and applied for an internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—combining my love for game design and problem-solving with cutting-edge space technology. This led to my proudest achievement yet: becoming an intern at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Now, I work at SwampWorks, a section of the Kennedy Space Center dedicated to developing the technology that will allow us to live on the moon and beyond. My love for game design and digital art played a significant role in securing my position here. I’m just a few weeks into my internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and my Synik 30 has continued to be my faithful companion. Each day, I drive roughly 30 minutes to my building, with my Synik 30 packed with my work-day essentials: A work-issued laptop, two notebooks, a case of pencils and pens, various cords, and even a Small Mystery Organizer Pouch filled with AA and AAA batteries.

The Kennedy Space Center is vast, covering over 140,000 acres of land and water. While it’s a hub of space exploration, it also serves as a wildlife refuge, which means that if I want to have lunch with other interns, I have to drive at least four minutes to a cafeteria on the other side of the center. No matter where I go, my Synik 30 is with me, whether I’m touring the Vehicle Assembly Building, visiting the launchpads, or viewing SwampWorks’ regolith test bed, also known as the “Big Bin,” a facility that helps engineers and scientists test robots and experiments using a lunar soil simulant called Black Point 1.

Through all these adventures, my backpack has served as my portable office. Whether I need a pen, pencil, batteries, or my laptop, I can always find everything I need neatly stored within my bag.

One of the most amusing moments I’ve experienced with the Synik 30 at NASA came when I realized that the much larger, more powerful laptop issued to me by NASA was too large to fit through the side zipper of the laptop compartment. I had no troubles the last two years with my MacBook, but thankfully, the designers put another access zipper in the interior of the bag, which had just enough space to allow me to easily pull it out from the top, proving the Synik 30 could handle NASA-sized challenges too.

One of my favorite tricks with the bag involves charging my phone on the go. I discovered this hack back in high school, and I’ve been doing it ever since. By slightly unzipping the side pocket, I can slip my phone cord inside and connect it to my laptop, transforming the bag into my own personal portable charging station.

My Synik 30, gifted to me in Wilderness Ballistic to match the Ohio University Bobcats, has stood the test of time. Almost three years of daily use as both a student and now a full-time intern at NASA, and the bag still looks as good as new. It has endured everything from heavy loads of textbooks to long hikes, and yet there’s not a single sign of wear and tear.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this bag lasts me another decade. But even if it doesn’t, I’ll probably treat myself to another one off the website, simply because of how much this bag has enriched my daily life. This backpack has become a trusted companion that’s accompanied me through some of the biggest changes in my life.

So whether you’re a student juggling heavy textbooks, an intern exploring the far reaches of a NASA space center, or just someone looking for a new backpack, the Synik 30 has proven time and time again to be a durable, reliable, and versatile guide.

If my experience has taught me anything, it’s that a good backpack isn’t just about carrying things—it’s about carrying experiences, memories, and, in my case, even the tools to help us explore the stars.

Thank you to William for sharing his TOM BIHN story with us!