Where To Start: What To Write In A Graduation Card
When attending a graduation ceremony or celebrating from afar and sending a gift, you dont want to forget the card. The new grad will have plenty of family and friends to greet and most likely will be trying to chat with everyone. In order to share just how proud you are and get all the right words across, opt for writing your kind wishes in a graduation card thats sure to make them feel as special and accomplished as they deserve. To help you find the perfect way to say congrats! weve outlined the best tips and steps for what to write on a graduation card. Keep reading for a complete guide to graduation messages.
Is A Graduation Gift Required
The first rule about graduation gift etiquette is if you should even purchase a gift in the first place. The short answer? It depends.
First, did you receive an invite to a graduation party or the ceremony? If you did and the grad is headed to high school or beyond, then youll want to find an appropriate graduation gift.
If you just got a graduation announcement, dont feel obligated to give a gift. At the very least, send a heartfelt card or give the grad a phone call if youre far away.
Some families dont do much to celebrate graduations. So if you simply get an announcement, but you live out of town and youre close with the grad, a small gift is certainly appropriate. Use your judgment based on your relationship with the grad and their family.
In general, gifts for preschoolers, kindergartners, elementary graduates, and even middle school graduates arent really necessary . Although these are significant milestones for younger students, its also important to understand that the grad still has a lot of growing to do and still lives at home.
Consider the milestone being celebrated. Giving gifts to high school seniors and college graduates is appreciated since they are likely starting out in the real world on a limited budget. A thoughtful gift can go a long way to helping him or her on a new life path away from parents.
Gift Dagne Dover Legend Tote $149
Speaking of luxuries she’ll thank her lucky stars for but can’t yet afford, a really nice work bag with ample organization is a must and normally too pricey to be possible right after graduation. We’re big fans of Dagne Dover, thanks to their flawless construction, high-quality materials, and next-level organization structure and they’re a cheaper option in comparison to the Senreve Maestra. You can read the full review here.
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Delicious Peanut Butter Granola
If your graduate is about to live in their own space, its a smart idea to get them some versatile kitchenware. Instead of just gifting it to them in the box, fill these pretty glass jars with their favorite snacks. Its a sweet treat that your graduate will love having available for breakfast or a late-night snack.
Now Lets Cover What To Wear To A Graduation As A Guest
The guidelines for what to wear to a graduation as a guest are much less specific. But here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Its always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
If the invitation doesnt specifically state the dress code, go with a nice dress or skirt/slacks with a blouse combination. Its a safe bet and youll always feel more comfortable dressed up than dressed down. Dont wear jeans!
2. Wear something comfortable
Choose something comfortable. Graduations are looong. Youll want to wear something that isnt heavy, itchy, or too tight, because youll be stuck in it for several hours.
3. Let the graduate shine
Remember, its their special day. Not yours. Just like a guest at a wedding, you dont want to overshadow the most important person. So keep your outfit a little more understated. You can of course still wear colors or prints, but do so without becoming the center of attention.
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Teachers Mentors And Other Important People In Your Life
When considering who to invite to a graduation ceremony, dont forget about the people who made you who you are today. We all have that one teacher or mentor that inspired us to pursue our dreams and give our best in life! Even if you cant invite that important person to the ceremony, you should still send an announcement. There are only a few people that make a difference in our lives, and you should treat them in the right way and nurture the connection you have.
Gift The Leatherology Business Card Case $45
Her company will probably give out business cards, but she’s less likely to already own a business card holder she can feel good about pulling out at work, internships, or networking events. This looks polished, and Leatherology delivers orders in beautiful boxes, which doesn’t hurt for gifting. You can even get the holder monogrammed.
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Help Them Balance Their Budget
The best budget is the one theyll stick with, and You Need A Budget , the top pick in our guide to the best budgeting apps and tools, is built for financial newbies and econ majors alike. Its simple onboarding allows your gift recipient to easily track transactions across various credit cards and bank accounts. Plus, it helps out with math, identifies month-to-month trends, and lets them see their finances at a glance via its mobile app.
A Sleek Watch To Help Them Look The Part
These watches are stylish enough to wear on a job interview or out for coffee.
Theres a reason why the wristwatch is the quintessential graduation gift that has, ahem, stood the test of time. They’re practical and they give off an “I’ve got my act together” vibe. We love the well-designed watches by MVMT that look just as good on a buttoned-up job interview as they do mixing drinks behind the bar. Whatever your recent grads professional goals are, one of these stylish timepieces will help them look the part.
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Graduation Ideas For Guys In The Class Of 2022
Whether youre shopping for a son, nephew, brother, boyfriend or friend:
Graduation gift shopping for a guy can be a real head scratcher.
But theres no need to fret. Because I rounded up a list of the best college graduation gifts for him.
No matter how big or small your budget is:
Youre sure to find a gift thats perfect for the special graduating guy in your life. Here are 43 Pinterest worthy ideas thatll get the job done and then some.
Premium Shun Knife Set
There are some things you only need to purchase once in a lifetime if you choose the right brand.
A graduation gift for him that hell never forget is a knife set of exceptional quality, like this Shun Classic Set. Itll deliver fond memories of completing his masters for years to come.
Chef or not, itll get near daily use.
The difference between a premium knife and every other is so stark that once he has one, hell never want to use anything else.
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Graduation Year Penny Keychain
A personalized keychain with his graduation year is unique and while its inexpensive, its also not chintzy.
This Graduation Year Penny isnt girly or over the top. I think the simplicity of it makes it more likely to actually be used by a guy instead of collecting dust in a box.
This gift can serve as a nice little reminder of his college years every time he gets a glimpse of it hanging from his keys.
Cash In With A Cardholder:
In an age of social distancing buying goods using contactless methods has never been so important.
Whether shopping online or in real life, the recipient of this gift can keep their cards together all in once place without compromising on style.
Chloé’s ‘Walden’ cardholder has a slim, compact design that fits just as nicely into a back pocket as it will in a bag.
The light-blue croc-effect leather was crafted in Spain and has enough room to hold a few cards and receipts. It retails at £160 at Net-APorter.
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Raycon The Everyday Earbuds
Depending on who you ask, theyll tell you wireless earbuds are way overpriced. However, if you want to gift someone a pair that doesnt cost a few hundred dollars and still provides quality sound, Raycon has an option. The Bluetooth-enabled earbuds connect to a device in seconds and have three sound profiles for a personalized listening experience. They have up to 8 hours of playtime on a single charge, making these earbuds great for travel, working out, or the daily commute.
State Bags Lorimer Backpack
Whether commuting to work or simply going to the gym, your graduate will be happy to receive a sturdy and stylish backpack. The Lorimer Backpack from State Bags includes a laptop sleeve, side pocket for a phone or wallet, and a front compartment perfect for keys, pens, or other personal items. The main body is nylon, so it will feel lightweight no matter its contents, and the backpack comes in five neutral colors to fit every outfit.
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For The Grad Who Loves Being Pampered: Foot Spa
If the graduate you’re shopping for could use a spa day, consider giving them the Ivation Foot Spa so they can have a spa day whenever they want. It’s the best foot spa we tested, and with over 2,500 rave reviews on Amazon, we aren’t the only people who are obsessed with it. The device offers a spa-like experience at home with adjustable heating and massage features, and it was one of our top-selling gifts this past holiday season.
For The Caffeine Addict: A Coffee Maker
For many, coffee is an essential part of getting through the day. It can get pretty expensive going to Starbucks regularly, though. To help the graduate in your life avoid picking up the costly habit of daily coffee shop trips, introduce them to a great coffee maker. At $300, the retro-looking Moccamaster is our top coffee maker and would be a fabulous investment they could use for years to come. If you’re looking to spend less, the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville is our best single-serve pod coffee maker and also a fantastic purchase for someone in their 20s.
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For The Student Formerly Known As Stressed: Gravity Blanket
After years of school, finally, new graduates can relax. Because of this, a gift that helps them do so would be a huge hit. Weighted blankets can help you relax, and our favoritethe Gravity Blanketis loved by people for this very reason. When we tested weighted blankets, the Gravity Blanket outdid the competition. Their marketing copy claims the blanket is like wearing a hug, and as a proud owner, I can confirm this is true.
Get the Gravity Blanket from Gravity for $195
Am I Overthinking This: Over
The end of college can mean entering into a world of doubt. Help your grad answer a few questions and laugh a bit with Am I Overthinking This?: Over-Answering Lifes Questions in 101 Charts. The book features funny answers and illustrations to questions like, Do I have too many plants? and How do I achieve a work life balance? Of course theres no one size fits all answer, but the book is meant to be lighthearted and something any young adult can identify with.
A clock isnt necessarily at the top of every young persons list of home items, but when it looks this cool, who can resist? Sharper Images Light Up clock doesnt display numbers, but letters map out the time in five minute intervals. On first sight it probably looks like a puzzle, but when plugged in, the letters light up to show the time, like five minutes past four or fifteen minutes to six.
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For The One Who Will Eventually Be Commuting: A Nice Handbag
If you’re shopping for someone who is always carrying around a bag, consider getting a handbag as a gift. Not everyone loves handbags , but if they have items they’ll need to carry around out there in the world, chances are they will appreciate this luxurious adulthood staple. The Madewell tote bag is a great everyday bag, weekend bag, and work bag for when they start going into the office.
Get the Madewell Zip Top Transport Leather Tote at Madewell for $188
A Weighted Blanket To De
A weighted blanket is like a warm and calming hug.
The real world can be a little anxiety-inducing these days. Wrap them in a warm and calming hug with a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets are touted for relieving stress and for improving sleep, and our reviewers found the Gravity Blanket to be the most luxurious of all the ones they tried, praising it for its velvety feel and for even weight distribution.
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Special Grad Messages And Wishes To A Daughter
Seeing your little girl grow up and conquer the world deserves celebration. Send a special grad message or wish to your daughter with one of our warmhearted quotes.
Best College Graduation Gifts
No matter what kind of year its been, there is still reason to celebrate all the students who have already graduated or are soon to be graduating in 2020. When there are so many different kinds of graduation gifts, it may be hard to find the best one for your friend or family member who is walking the stage .
So, weve compiled 20 of the best graduation gifts for her and graduation gifts for him. Lets get to browsing!
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Final Thoughts On Graduation College Gifts For Him
Whatever you ending up choosing to give a boy on graduation day:
Just remember that expressing how proud you are of him is the most important part.
He may not remember what the college graduation gifts for him were in 20 years time, but he will remember how he felt.
Just make him feel loved and youll ultimately get it right.
Gym / Yoga Membership
Staying healthy shouldnt be an option, it should be a priority. Giving the gift of health becomes a priceless present. Whether you buy a Classpass membership, yoga classes, gym pass or the like, you can support your friend or family member staying healthy since they may no longer have access to their college gym.
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Offer Advice For The Future
Graduation often marks the beginning of a new chapter and is a time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Whether you are younger or older than the grad, offer a piece of advice they can use to help navigate through the journey they are about to embark on. For inspiration jump to our inspirational graduation messages to pick the perfect way to send them off into the unknown.
Now that you have explored the best tips and tricks for writing a heartfelt graduation card, peruse our graduation messages to select thoughtful words and phrases to include in your sign off or greeting. Weve covered every type of greeting below!
When You’ll Be There
If youre going to be at the commencement ceremony or a part of the celebration afterwards, you might choose to focus your message on the pride and fun of sharing in the graduates big day.
More casual
- Congratulations, Jamal. It means so much to be a part of your graduation day!
- WOO-HOO! Were thrilled to be celebrating your graduation with you!
- First I get to see you walk across the stage. Then theres a party? Awesome!
- Your whole village is stomping their feet and shouting your name right now, Kendrick.
- ¡Qué alegría poder ser parte de tu graduación!
More formal
- So happy we could be here to watch you graduate with honors. Its an honor to share in such an important day.
- Its my great privilege to know youto think about all youve achievedand to be with you on your graduation day.
- Youll always remember this day and so will all of us who were here cheering you on. Best of luck to you always!
- ¡Muchas felicidades! Es un privilegio poder acompañarte en tu graduación.
Helpful tip: If you know something about the graduate thats worthy of extra celebrating , thats worth calling out in your message.
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A Cocktail Kit To Get The Party Started
This subscription kit is going to hone a skill and save them a bundle on bar tabs.
Things are going to be lean for a few years, and cocktails can be pricey. Get them a cocktail kit so they can bring the happy hour home. Shaker & Spoon is like a full mixology course in a box. Each month focuses on one spirit and teaches subscribers how to craft that spirit into three different cocktails. Theyll get everything they need to create three original recipes. Shaker & Spoon also offers resources on their site such as how-to videos and a glossary to help them hone their skills to expert-level.