I absolutely love the holidays for many reasons: singing along to the Christmas songs, decorating the tree, and eating cookies with my siblings all have a special place in my heart. But one of my absolute favorite things to do is give gifts! The holidays are such a special time of year and I think it is important to show those I love that I’m thinking of them.
I made so many friends this first semester and I wanted to express my thanks for them (especially because they stumbled through the beginning of college with me). It’s hard to give gifts on a college budget, however, I had no idea how to find the perfect gift for everyone that impacted my college experience. What is one broke freshman to do?
Eventually, I thought of a plan.
My years of Catholic schooling instilled in me an appreciation for cursive writing. I write in my journal all the time and constantly work to develop my own style. Since I enjoy writing so much, I figured hand-written letters would be the perfect, affordable expression of gratitude for the friends I've recently made. The hand-written letter seems to be going out of style, but in my opinion, it is much more warm and personal than a text or pre-printed message. It says, “I have a lot of lovely things to say to you and I’m willing to take the time to write it out.”
I bought an adorable set of cards from the Barnes and Noble on campus and set to work. I hand-wrote twenty letters and delivered them personally to my friends. They loved that I was thinking of them during finals and thanked me for the memories, kind words, and holiday wishes. It makes me happy to know that I made such wonderful friends these past three months and I’m glad I could let them know how much they mean to me.
In conclusion, if you have lots of new friends and a college budget that doesn’t extend past your family and oldest friends, I totally recommend writing letters! Your friends will love the fact that you thought of them. And letters aren’t just a Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza thing, either. Send your friends letters of thanks and appreciation before the New Year, Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day, or any time!
Happy holidays!
