The seniors of the graduating class of 2020 have had it rough. They didn't get the graduation that was supposed to make their late nights in the library worth it. They didn't get to hug their favorite professors one last time and thank them. No one expected this. No one thought a pandemic would get in the way of their fireworks.
Though I am not graduating this year, I have so much admiration for the class of 2020. They were handed a terrible situation but have chosen to make the most of it. From zoom calls with their best friends to kiddie pools in their backyard, they are resilient. Congratulations on achieving so much and even more to come.
Nevertheless, They deserve the world… or atleast a good graduation gift. Below are ten ideas the class of 2020 will be sure to thank you for.
1. Luggage
This can go without saying. College graduates most likely have yet to invest in quality professional luggage. Whether this is a nice cosmetic case or carry-on or set, they will appreciate being able to look put together when they're flying to their first big job or traveling for a new career path.
2. A Professional Bag
No one likes to carry an old bag or backpack to the office. Get them something that will fit their laptop, phone, files, or whatever else they may need. Everyone in their early twenties wants to be taken seriously, be stylish, and have it all together. Help them get there.
3. A Custom Business Card Holder
No one wants to embarrass themselves by pulling crumpled business cards from the bottom of their bag. Get them a stylish card holder for them to present their new title they just landed.
4. Trendy Recipe Books
The days of ramen noodles and frozen pizzas have passed. College graduates are most likely living on their own for the first time without roommates or atleast without as much parental or financial support. Get them cookbooks… the kind they will actually use, the ones with recipes they saw on Instagram, the ones that make them feel like the adult they're trying so hard to prove to the world they are.
5. Staple Jewelry
It's always nice to receive a gift you want but would never be able to purchase on your own. Whether that is a nice bracelet or staple pair of earrings, get them something that wasn't bought from a random boutique- something to take them through their interviews, into their first day, and through their career. Something they can feel sophisticated and confident in that is classic enough to stand the test of time but trendy enough to get attention.
6. A Watch
Invest in a nice timepiece. An athletic apple watch only looks so good with a blazer. Get them something that can match most key items of clothing and will carry them into adulthood.
7. A Nice Coffee Maker
The Keurig from their freshman year dorm is probably not cutting it anymore. Whether its the coffee-addict in your life or an occasional hot cup of joe, get them the gift that will keep on giving. Nothing like a good pick me up to start of your career.
8. Custom College Decor
Etsy shops are essential. They sell black and white maps of college towns or engraved drinkware that is perfect for the recent college grad. It reminds them of their college days while still being classy enough for the real world.
9. Professional Clothing
Get them the gift of good style. Using Stitch Fix or a similar company, recent graduates can receive clothing styled for them and their careers and choose what they like and what fits them. This is a great way to help students start building their professional wardrobe while making sure they actually like it.
10. Loungewear
Maybe we're getting too old for the oversized sorority t-shirt and running shorts. Getting a nice loungewear set for working from home or getting caught up on life, it's sometimes nice to feel a little more put together than the bleach stained XXL with a hole in it.
