Graduation season is upon us, which means it’s time to celebrate the achievements of your new high school or university graduate. Whether your young adult is heading off to college, travelling the world, leaving the nest, or starting their first career, here are 10 great gift ideas that will help your loved one transition to adulthood.
Jewelry
Classic jewelry boasts elegance and style, making it a gift that lasts a lifetime. With your new grad growing up, it’s time to surprise her with a pair of shimmering diamond stud earrings or a timeless pearl necklace. Not only will she look sophisticated at her upcoming job interview, she’ll also have something that will remind her of her special graduation day.
Travel Gear
When I graduated university, I packed my bags and travelled the world. If your new grad is like me and is more interested in exploration than studying, then they’ll need some durable travel gear to get them through their international adventures. Built to last, the Samsonite Tech Series 3-piece luggage set offers plenty of packing room so your loved one can bring home souvenirs from around the world. The Swiss Gear laptop backpack also makes a great carry-on option and features an RFID blocking pocket to prevent the downloading of personal information found on passports and credit cards.
Fitness Tracker
As your graduate enters adulthood, nothing is more important than establishing healthy eating and exercise habits. Give the gift of health and fitness with a Fitbit Charge HR activity tracker. This device accurately tracks steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and heart rate so your grad can monitor their progress and performance. The Fitbit can also sync with a smartphone so your loved one can set goals and challenge friends and family to stay motivated.
Kitchen Appliances
Is your graduate finally leaving the nest? Help furnish their new dorm or apartment with kitchen appliances. The Keurig coffee maker delivers coffee in a flash to save your grad valuable time and money. This single-serve coffee maker has gotten me through countless late night study sessions and gives me the jolt I need to get to work on time. I don’t know what I’d do without it! The Crock-Pot programmable slow cooker also whips up delicious meals with minimal effort, making it ideal for the young adult who is learning how to cook.
Tablet
A tablet delivers the right balance of work and play. Perfect for young professionals constantly on the go, tablets are extremely portable and allow users to download a magnitude of apps that suit their entertainment and productivity preferences. The Microsoft Surface 3 is loaded with Microsoft Office so your grad can get their work done virtually anywhere, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab S offers cinema-like HD quality for an immersive gaming and movie watching experience.
Picture Frame
If pictures are worth a thousand words, then the Aluratek digital photo frame is priceless. Transfer your favourite photos to the frame and it will create a memorable slideshow that showcases your loved one’s greatest milestones. Pictures can always be added or removed, making this an evolving keepsake that will be treasured for many years to come.
Camera
Your travelling graduate will need a high-quality camera to capture their special moments. Investing in a Canon Rebel DSLR was one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only do my travel photos look spectacular, but the endless settings and features also give me plenty of opportunity to unleash my creativity. For the beginner photographer, I recommend gifting the Canon Rebel T6i or the Nikon D5500 DSLR. Both are exceptional cameras that come equipped with WiFi capabilities so your grad can instantly send photos from the DSLR to their smartphone for easy sharing. If your grad is a thrill-seeking traveller, the GoPro HERO4 is perfect for capturing extreme sports, underwater excursions, and much more.
Fashion Watch
Like classic jewelry, a sleek fashion watch is a gift that will never go out of style. This Kenneth Cole men’s watch or Peugeot Swarovski women’s watch will help your grad keep track of the time. A fashion watch also complements formal wear and pairs perfectly with business attire so your young professional can look sharp on the first day of their new job.
Laptop
After completing high school, my parents gave me one of the most important gifts I’d ever received: a laptop. That laptop lasted throughout my university years and helped me write papers, take notes, do research, and so much more. If your child is heading off to university, I can’t help but recommend giving them a laptop. The MacBook Pro is a popular choice amongst millennials and has all the tools your young adult needs to succeed. For those who want don’t want to deal with bulk, the lightweight and compact Acer Chromebook offers easy portability and runs your favourite Google apps at blazing fast speeds.
Vacuum
Worried your child is going to skip the chores when they move out? Make sure they keep their new digs clean with a vacuum. A vacuum may seem like a bland gift, but boy, have these cleaning appliances changed in the past decade. The Dyson V6 slim vacuum features a lightweight and cordless design for easy handling, while a powerful suction and 2-tier cyclone system capture every ounce of dirt. If you’re new grad is a bit on the lazy side, the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaning robot is sure to get them excited. This robot does all the cleaning for you and even vacuums hard-to-reach areas like under the couch.
Make graduation day extra special and celebrate your loved one’s success with the perfect gift. Whether you’re helping furnish a new apartment, giving the tools they need to succeed in post-secondary education, or preparing them for their upcoming travels, your graduate will appreciate your support in their future endeavours.
Graduation image courtesty of wvtf.org
