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5 points if you can guess what song that is… 🙂
Well, the time is upon us. Saying goodbye to old friends and hello to new beginnings. Walking down aisles, turning tassels, and throwing caps. Celebrating a life that was and preparing for the life to come. Embracing change, accepting challenges, and preparing for the journey ahead.
Today I bring you a very special edition of Creativi-bee…the Graduation Edition. Whether you know someone who is graduating middle school, high school, or college, I have some great gift ideas sure to please. So put that check book away. Don’t run to the bank to give them a card of cash…just open your pantry and clean house…
MIDDLE SCHOOL:
–The key to a great gift is practicality. If you know someone who is graduating middle school, help them out by making them a basket of school supplies. Give them some folders, notebooks, pens, paper, etc. Decorate the notebook covers or pencils to add a little personal touch to your gift. On that same note, a good quality back pack is always a great gift.
–Get them the fixings for a memory book or box to add stuff to as they work their way through high school. I know I have a couple boxes filled with old marching band drill charts, award certificates, medals, patches, and photos. Decorate the box or book with their high school’s school colors to get them in the spirit!
–If you’re looking to spend money on something they’re sure to use, consider buying them a graphic calculator or a digital camera.
–Offer to take your graduate out on a shopping spree. Buy them one new cool outfit for school while discussing high school stories of your own. 🙂
–A journal is a great gift for someone this age. Start by writing the first entry for them, telling them how proud you are of them and what you hope for them in the future.
–Collect your 52 favorite inspirational quotes and put them in a jar. Tell the graduate to pull out one slip of paper each week to help encourage and motivate them.
–Offer to give a graduate free music/dancing/singing lessons for a year. Students often enter the fine arts in middle school and it’s so important to keep them active in the program throughout their educational career. If you’re musically inclined, or you know someone who is, allow your graduate the opportunity to further their education in the fine arts.
HIGH SCHOOL:
–One of the best gifts I received when I graduated high school was a huge food basket. It was filled to the brim with all kinds of snacks and goodies and lasted me a good while in college. Along those lines, enroll your graduate in a “Cookie of the Month” club or the like, sending him or her a new batch of cookies every month, straight from your kitchen.
–Most high school grads are college-bound…meaning life in a dorm. Help them out by buying (or donating) linens, towels, furniture, dishes, and appliances.
–Again, if you’re willing to spend the money (or want to go in with a group of people), consider the following: digital camera, laptop computer, or iPod.
–Donate some of your scrapbooking supplies and invite your graduate over to make a high school memories collage to decorate their dorm room.
–Cash, gas cards, gift certificates, restaurant certificates and the like are also great gifts. It may seem heartless to give cash as a graduation gift, but I assure you it will be put to good use.
–Offer to buy one of their college text books.
–Donate some of your cleaning supplies to help keep the dorm in tip top shape…or make some eco-friendly cleaning materials by mixing lemon juice and ammonia.
–Use up some of your left over yarn and knit your graduate a mixed scarf.
–Offer to help them write up their resume or admissions essay. I know I dreaded that part of the college process…so offer your wisdom and support.
–Having a summer garage sale? Offer your graduate the chance to scour your goods first and pick out their favorite items, free of charge, to help decorate their new living space.
–Everybody loves care packages. Offer to mail something to your graduate once a month to help brighten their day.
–Leaving high school is hard for a lot of students. Friends they spent the last four years of their lives with spread out all over the country to further their education. Using computer software or scrapbook supplies, put together a stationary set so your graduate can keep in touch with his/her friends. Include paper, envelopes, pens, and stamps.
–Offer to host a graduation party at your home or rent a larger location.
COLLEGE:
–Money, money, money. I know I told you to put your checkbook away, but I revoke that comment for the time being. Every college graduate is in need of financing…and every little bit helps.
–College graduates often have no idea what to do when they return home from school. Offer to help with the job search. Help them find leads, learn how to apply for a job, and practice interviewing.
–If you have some nice business clothes you no longer wear, consider donating them to your graduate. Suits are not budget friendly and even if they never have to wear one for a job, it’s important to wear one for an interview.
–Donate your old car or furniture.
–Are you artistically inclined? Paint your graduate a picture to hang in their new apartment.
–Write a recommendation letter.
–Offer to drive to campus and help move them back home. If you have some extra space, suggest they store some of their stuff with you until they find their own place to live.
–Offer your graduate a part time job working for you while they look for something more stable.
For all of you who are graduating this year, the very best of luck to you in whatever it is you decide to do.
“The world is waiting…so get on your way!”
Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.
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