College Gift Guide
Now you may ask why do I suggest gifts that are not related to studies? Well, College students are not teens who have to be cocooned in a typical educational environment. Nor they are going to be happy with childish nail-art stickers and anime-inspired bags. They are young adults who have to taste life before their full-fledged entry into the duty stacked adult life. Here are seven ideas for gifting:
1. Give them plants and help them nurture them.
Start with the indoor plants. Many plants can be grown indoors and need simple grooming and nurturing conditions. Peace lilies, kalanchoe, philodendrons, and aloe vera are great choices, to begin with. Gardening teaches them patience and the importance of persistent determination. Instead of rushing for the fruits of action, it teaches one to slow down and enjoy the process of life as it comes. Overall, gardening is a meditative practice.
2. Make them cook for you.
Many young adults do not know to cook and thinking about all the hard work they have to put into making a dish, they prefer getting their meal from outside. It is a survival skill that one must know and one should embrace it as a part of life than thinking of it as a forced obligation. Cooking is also a science that constantly tests your control over the senses and the mind. Obediently following the recipe and executing the procedure will not make the food delicious. Constant practice and love is the key to good food.
3. Give them crafts and miniature works.
Craft and miniature making is a niche hobby among young adults today. Colour papers, mounting boards, acrylic paints, and 3D printed tiny objects are used to make fancy decorative items and greeting cards. These creative explorations can be sold on social media or online selling portals and make small money. It allows them to appreciate the hard work involved in earning money. Obtaining financial skills and knowledge early in life will be profitable in their career ahead.
4. Take them hiking.
To take a quick break between a heavy schedule of study, hiking is a great activity. Hiking needs just light planning as the trails are mostly established ones. Less equipment is enough as the amenities will be available nearby. Hiking can be a good reason for most people to keep their bodies fit. Some may find gym subscriptions expensive. If so, hiking is an excellent alternative. Nature can be the best healer for people who suffer from bad mental health. Nature also rejuvenates one’s creative powers.
5. Brief trips with exotic activities.
There is a less spoken scenario that happens to every student in college. Pupils wish they have nothing to do during their busy semester. But when the semester ends, they wish they have something to do. So a short trip at the end of the semester will keep the students motivated throughout the semester. Experiencing adventurous activities like skydiving, snorkeling, kayaking, rock climbing, horse riding, and pottery making are great for short trips. Frankly, such activities will be the most memorable gift for them after a long semester.
6. Give them books
Self-improvements books like The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek would be a great companions for students. They create behavioral and psychological shifts in students that groom their personalities to the best. Non-fictional books can educate about the world outside and prepare these young adults to face it bravely. Discuss these books over dinner and give the college goers a sense of belonging in the adult world.
7. Go along for volunteering
Bring the students to animal shelters, orphanages, and government and non-governmental charity events to develop interpersonal skills and social responsibility. Even the shelters and orphanages need helping hands periodically, so participating as volunteers would do great help for them. Volunteering experiences are keenly observed by employers these days.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt ‘College Gift Guide’, These gifts might sound like too much work, but they demand focus, physical and mental strength, and most crucially time. After all, time is the significant aspect that most people fail to provide for others. What can be a better gift than sharing the time and creating memories? These gifts not only give them memories but will strengthen their relationship with you.
Such gifts will help distract college students’ minds off studies a little while engaging the mind in upskilling which is necessary for life. After all, a degree alone will not suffice to get them a job. Skills in multiple fields will support their CV to secure a career. Healthy distractions will ensure students deliver a complete concentration that is primary for impactful learning. It also assures they do not miss out on beautiful things in life.
