Oh, the places you’ll go…and the things you’ll need! As the celebration of graduation season comes to a close and the reality of getting prepared for the next adventure sets in, it is normal to feel overwhelmed as a new college student and especially as a parent. As a rising senior in college, I have had time to weed out the lesser of the “must haves” and pack lightly from year to year. Although there is no such thing as being too prepared for leaving home, there are a few things that I can say I’m glad that I had, wish I’d had, or would be a suitable gift for your favorite graduates.
The typical first trip home for most college students includes at least three loads of dirty laundry. If you have ever lived in campus housing, you understand that the laundry room feels
as though it’s located in a different time zone than your dorm room, and the haul is hardly worth the fresh clothes. During my freshman year, a friend of mine had a rolling laundry hamper that I envied every time I piled up a week’s worth of dirty clothes and arrived out of breath at the building’s shared laundry space. To make those trips easier and hopefully more frequent, do yourself or your college student the favor of purchasing one of those rolling hampers. They’re available at Target, Walmart and of course, Amazon. Something we all realize as we get older is just how much our moms do for us in general. This is especially true regarding laundry.
Another item that I could not get through a week without is a hand-held steamer.
Trying to fit in with the crowds of people all sharing your confused emotions is intimidating, but at least you can be confident with your freshly pressed linens. I purchased mine from Target, but like all other good things, they can be purchased on Amazon.
Being away from home is a major adjustment, so giving a gift that encourages your loved one on their next adventure can provide the comfort they’re missing in their new home away from home. The personalized pillowcases from PillowGrace can be printed with a favorite quote or bible verse to serve as a reminder for college students of what can get them through the long nights of studying. I have given these to friends for graduation and they always seem to love them. PillowGrace can customize your pillow case by thread color, verse or quote, size and they even have cases that are themed by team mascot and sorority or fraternity colors.
One of the hardest things about having everything you own in an unusually small space is knowing where your things are when you need them. Something I had that made this a little bit
easier was a keychain wallet. These can range anywhere from a simple card holder from Target or TJ Maxx to a designer brand such as Tory Burch. For many campuses, you are required to carry your student ID with you to permit entry into dorm rooms, dining halls and exercise facilities. For those who don’t want to carry a wrist wallet accessory, rubber phone wallets that stick to a case and are sized specifically to hold cards work perfectly as an alternative.
One of the most useful things I received when I left home was a first-aid kit that my mom had put together herself with medicines to treat colds, aches and pains, flu symptoms and everything in between, including bug spray and sunscreen. The kit was made complete with a thermometer to be able to distinguish my feelings of exhaustion from actual sickness. On a college campus, illness spreads like wildfire and something that may come as a surprise when you dash to CVS is that there are a thousand pills and liquids to treat your symptoms and they are all much more expensive than you would have ever thought. Not only did I use this gift frequently, but my roommates, friends, and sorority sisters also came to me with all that ailed
them. Everyone needs a first aid kit like this, no matter how strong you think your immune system.
I think everyone in my shoes can agree when I say college students like to eat. Despite the meal plan that is convenient, paid for and decently tasty, at some point everyone gets tired of the same options day in and day out. A gift that is guaranteed to be used and appreciated are gift cards. While you may think “Oh, but a gift card is so impersonal;” speaking from three years of experience, nothing makes a college student happier than having a meal or groceries paid for. To a college student, receiving a gift card to the best local grocery store in the area, a favorite restaurant or even a trusty Walmart is like unwrapping Willy Wonka’s golden ticket every time! For the gals in your life, a gift card to a clothing store may be a nice treat when they are adjusting their wardrobe from high school to college.
If you are reading this as a recent high school graduate, the most important thing I have realized that everyone needs through this time of transition is each other. I never appreciated the people on my home team like I did during these times of change. As I mentioned, my mom got me through the preparation for going off to school. If I had to pick a most valuable thing to take with you, it would be your relationships with those who raised you, encouraged you, and helped build the foundation of who you are as you spread your wings. These people know you to your core and are always cheering for you to do your best. For parents, friends, and family members, remember that the role you have played for the last 18 years may begin to look and feel different, but you are needed now more than ever.
St. Simons Island native Anne Marie Fuller is currently earning her degree in public relations
Anne Marie Fuller
as a senior at Georgia Southern University. She is involved in her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi and The National Retail Federation Student Association. She enjoys the opportunity that working in public relations provides to be creative and constantly meet new people. Her hobbies include fashion, traveling and going to the beach. After college, she plans to relocate and pursue a career in marketing and public relations.
