HELP! Any Creative H.S. Graduation Present Ideas?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>So, what do you get a kid heading off to a Service Academy?</p>

<p>Can't drive, can't wear clothes, can't listen to a stereo, can't use a cell phone... Won't be home til Turkey Day. Everything except 6 pairs of whiteys, personal hygiene items, a calculator, and running shoes are taken away at Alumni Hall on I-Day... Arrrghhh!</p>

<p>I think we're closing in on a choice between a Roth IRA account deposit or Online Brokerage account deposit.</p>

<p>Any ideas or lessons learned?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Digital photo frame. This way, he can have lots of pictures of family and friends always there with him, people he knows Love him and wish him the best, when the times are tough.</p>

3

<p>Ours is turning 18 on June 1. We gave him a trip with some of his high school buddies as a combination birthday/graduation/going away to the academy gift. We sent him to Scotland, but you could do something less drastic. He happened to have a number of friends planning a trip and he really wanted to go. We figured the amount of money he saved us in tuition alone earned the reward, and this will probably be the last hurrah with these boys from high school as he bonds with his fellow mids in relationships that will probably last the rest of his life.</p>

4

<p>We're sending our son on an 18 day European trip as a graduation/b-day gift also..but the digital picture frame is a great idea as well........I might consider it for a PPW gift. We're telling friends and family, when asked for ideas, that money will be the best present for the soon to be plebe.</p>

5

<p>What about.....</p>

<p>cell phone, digital camera (can be used after plebe summer)
electric razor</p>

6

<p>Wife's cousins literally have Yellowstone in their back yard. Sending with 50yards of Bubble wrap.</p>

7

<p>How about just your LOVE and PRAYERS - It works....</p>

8

<p>We gave our mid-to-be a huge goodby party. Had everyone who could come, including teachers and military contacts. At the party I took a photo of each person with my girl. I also had a special table set aside with index cards. I asked each person to write a very short note of encouragement to my girl. I even contacted famous people who wrote books my girl had read in preparation for her interest in serving in the military. Amazingly - I received replies to add to my collection.</p>

<p>After this all day outdoor party filled with talk, and fun, and food and music and people coming and going, I printed on wallet sized format all the photos.</p>

<p>During Plebe Summer and throughout the school year, I would mail my girl, one at a time - the matching photo of her and the person's note.</p>

<p>I noticed when we parents were able to be up in her room at the end of Plebe summer, many of her favorite photos and notes pinned to her little space on her desk.</p>

<p>So this is another unique way to celebrate your son's birthday and USNA send-off.</p>

9

<p>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$</p>

<p>and if you can....</p>

<p>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$</p>

<p>always the right size, always useful, and always needed!!!!</p>

10

<p>Some things I'm asking for graduation presents:</p>

<p>A small humidor and a starter collection of cigars. (Cigars.com</a> - Cigar portal, my dad and I are big customers)</p>

<p>Ray-Ban Shooter style sunglasses.</p>

<p>Promise of a car after 3/c year.</p>

<p>Skydiving trip.</p>

<p>Exxon-Mobil stock (not gonna happen).</p>

<p>And of course... CASH!</p>

11

<p>Wow--I wish I could read message boards without crying! Peskemom--what a beautiful idea. I already have the party planned, and intend to have close family "sign up" to send letters on certain days--so son gets mail constantly.</p>

<p>But the index card and picture is an AWESOME idea, which I will be taking, thank you very much! ;-)</p>

<p>Just can't imagine how many more tears I have to go, since it's only May...and I'm only reading a message board!</p>

<hr>

<p>Oh--and to answer the question, son and friends (from prep school) are going to Hawaii in June as one last hurrah.</p>

12

<p>wolfemom...glad to know this good idea will work for you as well.I got the idea from another USNA mom who several years back posted the idea on another list-serve - so I'm thrilled to 'spread the wealth' to others!</p>

<p>One really fun thing I did was contact people who my daughter deeply respected, but wasn't a family member. I wrote to Dale Dye - a military analyst, retired Marine Captain who is known for being the advisor to productions like Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc. I wrote to Nathaniel Fick, author of "One Bullet Away", and Andrew Exum, author of "This Man's Army". Each person, believe it or not - wrote a short note of encouragement back to add to surprise my girl. And to this day, as a result of ongoing communication, our family and these people remain in contact. </p>

<p>So if your Plebe to be has people he admires - what the heck - try and get a way to contact them - tell YOUR mid's story and future hopes and dreams - and I suspect you too will get to blow your mid's mind when he opens a personal note from one of his heroes!</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
A small humidor and a starter collection of cigars. (Cigars.com - Cigar portal, my dad and I are big customers)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>forget the cigars...you have way too much running to do, and cigars won't help you make your times...no way no how!!! </p>

<p>
[quote]
Ray-Ban Shooter style sunglasses.

[/quote]

just don't plan on bringing them down to the academy any time before PPW... plebes don't rate sunglasses, expecially during the summer! After that- it's all up to your company as to when you can rate wearing them! ;)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Promise of a car after 3/c year.

[/quote]

better yet- ask for a parking spot to go with it!!! :)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Skydiving trip.

[/quote]

ask for a roll of bubble wrap instead.... show up on I-Day with a broken this or a fractured that from your dive-through-the-sky and you will be headed right home again wishing you had picked $$$ instead!!!</p>

<p>
[quote]

Exxon-Mobil stock (not gonna happen).

[/quote]

wonder what kind of hit they will take if they get hit with the windfall profit tax the democrates are promising! </p>

<p>
[quote]
And of course... CASH!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>ah, there you go!!!!!!!</p>

<p>actually, what we ended up getting our Mid was a religious medal (his a mariner's cross) and chain, the former blessed three times by our family priest for fair winds and following seas, and the latter long enough not to be seen under his blue rims!)</p>

14

<p>GoinToUSNA08: Cigar Humidor is a great idea after PPW. My son and other Plebes would gather with upperclass for cigars often on Friday nights. A good cigar collection is a good icebreaker. My son maintains a fine collection at USNA.</p>

15

<p>Here are some that I got (years ago, before the "digital age.") and actually used. And, I should add that I'm female . . .</p>

<p>Bookends, especially with Navy themes (anchors, etc.)
Ship's clock
Jewlery (charms, etc.) with Navy themes
Picture frames
Money/savings bonds
Stationery (in the days when we wrote letters, not email)
Luggage (especially smaller bags)</p>

<p>Things I received and never really used:</p>

<p>Sterling bookmarks (got 4)
Pen & pencil sets (got 5)-- just pick a nice PEN with BLACK ink
Letter openers (got 3)
Books (the type that look good but weren't intersting to read)</p>

<p>Other things that would have been nice:</p>

<p>Gift cards to various stores (electronics, clothing, etc.). When you're home on leave, you don't have a lot to do other than watch TV, visit friends, and shop! I'm sure there are lots of electronic gadgets that are popular and can be used at some point during or after plebe year.</p>

<p>If you're a parent, I would politely tell people who ask that your child won't have a traditional college room and thus won't need (and can't use) much of the usual stuff most students need.</p>

<p>BTW, money is nice but, in a few years, you forget what the money bought. Gifts do last forever -- I still look at certain items and remember who gave them to me. Whatever you or your child receives -- it is a loving gift given with the best of intentions. Accept it as such.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
GoinToUSNA08: Cigar Humidor is a great idea after PPW. My son and other Plebes would gather with upperclass for cigars often on Friday nights. A good cigar collection is a good icebreaker. My son maintains a fine collection at USNA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>before you go purchasing any more of those big 'ole ci-gars, let alone puff away on them, just remember that "Cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. In fact, a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes."</p>

<p>Words of caution from the American Lung Association.
Cigar</a> Smoking Fact Sheet - American Lung Association site</p>

<p>Anyway, for those of you who want to maintain good lung function but might not like to hand over cold hard $$$$$$, might I suggest putting any $$$$ towards something they can really use!!! </p>

<p>And you will still have something to "wrap"!!!!!<br>
How about getting eveyone to "chip in" for an "O-Coat!!!"
They are no longer "issued," but they sure come in handy come Army-Navy!!!! Even if that is the only day they wear it, it is worth every single cent! They will "thank you" more than you know!</p>

<p>They don't come cheap (although there are cheap ones out there).... but the good quality ones will run $350 and there is a difference between them! (another case of you get what you pay for!) </p>

<p>So what is an O-Coat?
It's known as an "officers coat" and is a long woolen coat worn over their SDB's during winter months.</p>

<p>Mids often purchase an O-Coat following service selection night their youngster year at the academy if they have not already received one from Mom and Dad for plebe christmas..... they hunt down the firsties going "marine" and, if the sizes match, they stike a deal! But you need to 1. find a marine, and 2. find the right size. Forget the firsties sticking with the naval fleet- they take their coats with them as official issue.</p>

<p>The USNA used to issue "O Coats" along with their other uniforms, however starting with the class of 2010 they switched to all weather gortex coats that are fine most of the time when they are down in Annapolis, but just don't "cut it" come those freezing winter days! The mids can wear either coat as both are "official issue," thus many parents go out and purchase one if not that first year (they have not experienced army-navy in gortex yet!).... but by the time their youngster year rolls around, everyone is looking for one!..... I know there was a run on 44R this past christmas amongst the 2010 parents (so much so that they were on a 3 month backorder!) </p>

<p>Now that would make a great graduation gift from all the aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa, brothers and sisters, and mom and dad! ANd to make it even more "special," have your Mid's name embroidered with his USNA class year on the inside!</p>

<p>Anyway- just an idea!
And just think- every time they put that warm coat on, it will be like wrapping your loving arms around them!!!!</p>

<p>If you are interested and want the site, send me a PM!</p>

17

<p>When our son graduated from high school, we gave him a check to start an IRA, packaged in an elaborate folder I made up about IRAs. To our surprise, he actually enjoyed researching investment options (ended up w/ USAA). </p>

<p>When he graduated from NAPS the next year, we bought him a few shares of Whole Foods stock, since he's a health food nut and loves the store. It's tanked since then (well done, Mom) but he's learned a lot following it and coming up w/ a strike price. He now speaks w/ pride of his "portfolio" and decided to major in Econ @ USNA. </p>

<p>(I SO want to take credit for that, but he's thrifty by nature and would probably have landed in Econ anyway ... probably.)</p>

18

<p>The old wool overcoat was great. However, having spent 1970 A-N in the rain, I would much rather have had the gortex. The wool coat must have weighed and additional 50 pounds by the end of the game and did not smell very good during the rest of the evening and for about 4 weeks after that. But the old wool coat is nice and is a great conversation piece after retirement. My wife has confiscated my Reefer coat for personal use.</p>

19

<p>^^^see!!! It can even be recycled!!!! A "gift that keeps on giving!!!" :)</p>

20

<p>I must proclaim my solidarity with the cigar aficionados. When I look back on my life so far, some of my most potent and meaningful memories are of the warm summer evenings I have spent with my husband sharing a good cigar, a cocktail, and conversation. We have formulated dreams, made plans, aligned our thinking regarding child rearing, worked our way through the stresses and complications of life, shared countless laughs, learned to understand each other on a deeper level, and learned to blow awesome smoke rings. There is something about the ritual, the camaraderie, the tradition of sharing a cigar that facilitates deep bonding and is thoroughly pleasurable. One thing that I have come to understand is that life will kill you. If the few dozen cigars my husband and I have shared through the years takes a half hour off my life, it was time very well spent. Like everything else, moderation is the key. We take very good care of ourselves and have taught our son to do the same. And, oh yeah, there will definitely be a very good cigar coming his way for graduation...this kid wants to be a SEAL, for goodness sake...an occasional cigar will be the least of his worries when it comes to potential threats.</p>

<p>No offense meant to anyone, just my two cents worth.</p>