- As graduation season approaches, a new wave of hopeful college graduates are looking toward the future.
- Two final year students share their feelings about graduating and the gifts on their wish list.
- From gift cards to new laptops, these are the items graduating students want to help them move on to the next chapter.
When Leor H. started college in 2020 during COVID-19, his parents weren’t allowed to set foot in his dorm room due to safety restrictions. They drove him from Boston to his university in New Brunswick, Canada, dropped him off and returned home.
“Basically, we said goodbye, and he went into his dorm, and I didn’t see his dorm for a while,” his mother, Danya H., said.
Today, as Leor and her other classmates of 2024 prepare to graduate, they look forward to the in-person experiences they may have missed during their first years of college, like on-site jobs, family time and travel. Relatives, friends and colleagues can support these seniors by being there to help them take their next steps and giving them gifts that can help them achieve their goals.
Planning for post-college life
Leor, a psychology student preparing to become a behavioral therapist for autistic children, plans to take a gap year to spend time with his family and travel alone through Asia before pursuing a master’s degree. Useful gifts like a travel backpack, a new set of AirPods, or an Apple gift card for flexible purchases would be perfect for her next adventures.
Apple
Leor is looking forward to celebrating his graduation with his parents, siblings and grandmother who are traveling from Boston to join the occasion. Although he is excited about the future, he admits he also feels nervous about leaving college.
“There is some anxiety, we really don’t know what the next step will look like,” he said. “But in the end it’s very bittersweet, I’m both excited about what’s next but also sad about where I’m leaving.”
Feelings of confusion or sadness as graduation approaches are not uncommon, but her mother assures her that it’s okay to embrace the unknown. Her advice to her son and other students is that you don’t need a specific plan when you graduate.
“I think most (young adults) have so much wisdom and knowledge that they don’t need to have it all figured out in their early 20s,” she said. “I don’t think Leor needs all the answers. I love that he asks us good questions.”
Enter the professional world
Emma Z., a senior at a New York university, also has mixed emotions about graduating. She hopes to take a short break after college before starting a job in the city as a marketing and partnerships coordinator in the fashion industry. Long term, she plans to become a marketing manager or start her own business.
Throughout her university years, Emma balanced her studies with internships in marketing and social media, gaining experience with fashion and jewelry brands. Working as a freelance stylist, she has also created visuals for editorial campaigns.
“I will definitely miss the flexibility of being a student and having a daily student schedule, but I am excited to embark on a career,” Emma said.
As Emma transitions into professional life, she values the advice of her mentors and colleagues in her current job. She said a new handbag for the office or an updated MacBook would make the transition from student to working life easier. The Apple gift card could go towards the purchase of a new MacBook or give her the freedom to finance whatever she chooses – from stylish accessories to crucial apps to iCloud+ storage – allowing her to get started her next chapter of life on the right foot.
Buy an Apple gift card here. Give everything Apple deserves as a gift.
This article was created by Insider Studios using the Apple Gift Card.
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