Beyond the torturous finals nearing, there is another event rapidly approaching: graduation. Current seniors may be graduating this April or looking forward to their last semester in the summer, but either way, they’re preparing to say goodbye to UF. You may be friends with a senior or be one yourself, but either way, graduation is an event to celebrate with your college BFFs. Who knows? This may be the last time you all can gather before seniors sail off into the sunset.
I was reflecting on my time at UF as I neared my own graduation. I realized how much my friend group has supported me unconditionally, so I wanted to find a way to give back to them. I started researching gift and memento ideas, and it turns out that there is a plethora of sentimental gifts to give your friends for when one of you is preparing to leave college. I’ve compiled a list of potential presents to give to your college BFFs that are perfect for the upcoming graduation ceremonies:
- Jar o’ memories
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This idea includes two easy ingredients: a mason jar (or a similarly cute box), and strips of paper. Write your favorite memories with your BFFs on each strip and carefully place them inside your jar. While this gift idea is simple, it will go a long way in making your friends smile by reminiscing over each paper strip. Whenever they’re feeling lonely, all they have to do is stick their hand in the jar and get an instant laugh when they recall the time your friend group got lost on the way to class.
- Open this when…
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I received a box of envelopes my senior year of high school from one of my BFFs, and it was one of the most cherished gifts I have ever received. In fact, while writing this I just finished opening my last envelope last week.
The premise of this gift is to have 10-15 envelopes displaying the words “Open this when…” on the front paired with a specific scenario for the recipient to open it for. For example, one envelope can be “Open this when you miss your BFFs,” and inside the envelope could be a picture of your friend group or a supportive speech to encourage your friend when you are not able to in-person. You can style the envelopes however you want and even personalize the case that they’re kept in, making them an additionally fun arts and crafts project.
- Scrapbook
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For her birthday, one of my close friends just received a scrapbook from all of her friends that she made at college. It brought her to tears. Building a scrapbook is a more involved option, but it’ll be so touching for you/your friend to open on graduation day and reminisce on your time at college. The nice thing about scrapbooking is that supplies can easily be found online or in stores like Michaels or Walmart. You can include pictures, ticket stubs, mementos, notes or whatever else you’ve collected throughout the years. This can be a touching way to send your BFF off knowing that you’re still there to support them from the past and into the future.
- Mugs for days
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If your friend is a coffee or tea lover, this may be the perfect gift. Many store photo departments or online photo printing shops offer the availability of photo mugs, an option in which you can print your own pictures onto a mug. There are different sized mugs, travel mugs or even tumblers that you can print your favorite group picture on. This way, when your friend goes to drink a nice cup of joe before the first day on the job, they can know that their besties support them 100%.
- Picture map
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This idea works particularly well if your bestie loves to travel, but either way, it’s a gift they’re sure to love. All this requires is a map of decent size, pins of any kind and printed out pictures of your friend group. To start, you can use pins to mark the locations of where all of your friends are and will be after graduation. Once you all are able to visit each other in the future, you can pin the pictures from these visits and trips onto the map along with any associated ticket stubs, brochures or receipts to mark any special memories. This gift can grow over the years as you all keep in touch, making it a physical keepsake.
- “I’m Proud of You” giftbox
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If you want to celebrate your friend’s success without getting too mushy, then you can opt for a self-care or celebration box for your friend to open on graduation day. The included elements are endless. For a more relaxing giftbox, you can include face masks, a robe and slippers. For a more party-esque box to highlight the celebration aspect, you can opt for champagne and a disposable camera. Either way, you are acknowledging the special day without getting too sentimental. Beyond this being a great option for those a bit rougher around the edges, this works well if you’ll be frequently seeing your besties after graduation. There’s no need for any emotional goodbye gifts here.
I hope these gift ideas were helpful on your quest to make the perfect BFF gift. However, remember that with any gift option you choose, your friend may love it simply because the effort shows how much you care. Relish the time with your college BFFs now, as it may be hard to come by later. I wish you all a happy graduation day, and good luck crafting!