What to give the once in a lifetime student?
August 1, 2010 3:04 PM Subscribe
I need an amazing graduation gift idea for an amazing person! Super, artsy, creative input needed...
Over ten years ago, I was an elementary music teacher at a small, public school in the south. Today, I got the most amazing letter, hand embossed, beautifully, hand illustrated card from one of these precious students that I taught in the late 90's. It's not a graduation announcement, it was a wonderfully touching, thank you card to all the friends, teachers, mentors who helped her get to this point in her life. She just graduated from a prestigious univ with a BFA in Theatrical Scenic Design.
I'm so touched that she thought of me and included me in this group who helped her get to this point, I want to send her an equally thoughtful gift celebrating her accomplishment. She is a beautiful, amazingly creative, incredibly gifted young lady. She has just finished several months of an internship with Cirque du Soleil....what can I send her that will touch her as much as her sweet card has touched me? My daughter is the age that this young woman was when I taught her.....I see so much of my daughter in her, we have connected on FB and I've told her that. She is just a fabulous person who is "HER OWN" person and I'm so proud of her, just beyond words. How can I show her?
Help me think of something to give her that will really stand out. Up to $200 or so. I want to gift her something that will let her know how much she, her accomplishments and her continued friendship means to me, I love this child dearly and the fact that she has thanked her teachers, especially one from so long ago, will never leave me.
Also, any connections to a fab job for a newly graduated, scenic design major? This woman is one in a million....
Any ideas, especially outside the box, are greatly appreciated.
Over ten years ago, I was an elementary music teacher at a small, public school in the south. Today, I got the most amazing letter, hand embossed, beautifully, hand illustrated card from one of these precious students that I taught in the late 90's. It's not a graduation announcement, it was a wonderfully touching, thank you card to all the friends, teachers, mentors who helped her get to this point in her life. She just graduated from a prestigious univ with a BFA in Theatrical Scenic Design.
I'm so touched that she thought of me and included me in this group who helped her get to this point, I want to send her an equally thoughtful gift celebrating her accomplishment. She is a beautiful, amazingly creative, incredibly gifted young lady. She has just finished several months of an internship with Cirque du Soleil....what can I send her that will touch her as much as her sweet card has touched me? My daughter is the age that this young woman was when I taught her.....I see so much of my daughter in her, we have connected on FB and I've told her that. She is just a fabulous person who is "HER OWN" person and I'm so proud of her, just beyond words. How can I show her?
Help me think of something to give her that will really stand out. Up to $200 or so. I want to gift her something that will let her know how much she, her accomplishments and her continued friendship means to me, I love this child dearly and the fact that she has thanked her teachers, especially one from so long ago, will never leave me.
Also, any connections to a fab job for a newly graduated, scenic design major? This woman is one in a million....
Any ideas, especially outside the box, are greatly appreciated.
Best answer: This isn't very specific, but you could try hunting for something really unique and awesome on Etsy. I don't know what you could give this woman to show your appreciation, but browsing for a few minutes on Etsy might give you some inspiration.
And whatever you give her, make sure you include a letter expressing everything you've said about her in this question. That will mean the most of all.
posted by mekily at 4:23 PM on August 1, 2010
And whatever you give her, make sure you include a letter expressing everything you've said about her in this question. That will mean the most of all.
posted by mekily at 4:23 PM on August 1, 2010
Response by poster: No intension to intimidate, I'm very overcome by her letter so I was probably fawning a bit. She is fabulous but still a 22 yr old with needs and a very creative artistic side that I want to impress upon. I've been in tears all day with her letter, bring it down to a regular, college grad, artistic, girl level and give me your best shot!!
posted by pearlybob at 4:33 PM on August 1, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 4:33 PM on August 1, 2010
You've already given her the greatest gift - you are an excellent teacher! If you feel you must respond, simply write her back to let her know how much a wonderful note from a former student means to a teacher.
posted by belau at 4:40 PM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by belau at 4:40 PM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
IMO a great big gift certificate with a heartfelt letter could be the way to go. I mean she's newly graduated, so she may be moving around a lot in the next little while and something that she has to pack could be a pain. The normal graduation things like a briefcase or new clothes don't really apply, so maybe a gift certificate for something that she can use but isn't something that she could afford to get herself would be good. Maybe something a little luxurious.
Does she need any tools or supplies for her job search? Does she have a hobby that she might not be able to afford to keep up while she's unemployed? Can you keep her stocked in sketchbooks and markers? Does she need a high quality portfolio to drag her work around to interviews?
I also agree with mekily, Etsy Alchemy was made for this kind of thing.
posted by TooFewShoes at 4:48 PM on August 1, 2010
Does she need any tools or supplies for her job search? Does she have a hobby that she might not be able to afford to keep up while she's unemployed? Can you keep her stocked in sketchbooks and markers? Does she need a high quality portfolio to drag her work around to interviews?
I also agree with mekily, Etsy Alchemy was made for this kind of thing.
posted by TooFewShoes at 4:48 PM on August 1, 2010
I am not as fabulous as your student, but I am artsy.
Its hard to buy gifts for us because we are picky.
I would want a heartfelt letter I could keep forever, and a gift certificate to a place like etsy, so I could buy what I really, really wanted. and then I could call you and tell you what you bought me :)
My sister is in theatre stuff, sound and lights, and she moves around a lot, traveling with shows. She doesnt need 'stuff'.
maybe an e-reader? so she can read and wont have to drag books around?
the kindle from amazon is under $200, and you could give her a gift certificate too so she could start downloading books.
posted by saragoodman3 at 4:56 PM on August 1, 2010
Its hard to buy gifts for us because we are picky.
I would want a heartfelt letter I could keep forever, and a gift certificate to a place like etsy, so I could buy what I really, really wanted. and then I could call you and tell you what you bought me :)
My sister is in theatre stuff, sound and lights, and she moves around a lot, traveling with shows. She doesnt need 'stuff'.
maybe an e-reader? so she can read and wont have to drag books around?
the kindle from amazon is under $200, and you could give her a gift certificate too so she could start downloading books.
posted by saragoodman3 at 4:56 PM on August 1, 2010
Best answer: Find a couple of quotations or passages that are especially meaningful to you, to her, or speak to your ideas of her, or your feelings about her, or wishes or dreams.
And then, send them to Caitlin Dundon of One Heart Studio in Seattle, who will beautifully calligraph them onto a custom box.
Then, inside the box, put a letter on your best stationery, or on paper you buy specially for the occasion—and on it, write all the things you told us here.
She'll read the letter, and weep a little, and then use the box to hold treasures and jewels and keepsakes and other notes and special bits.
posted by pineapple at 8:32 PM on August 1, 2010
And then, send them to Caitlin Dundon of One Heart Studio in Seattle, who will beautifully calligraph them onto a custom box.
Then, inside the box, put a letter on your best stationery, or on paper you buy specially for the occasion—and on it, write all the things you told us here.
She'll read the letter, and weep a little, and then use the box to hold treasures and jewels and keepsakes and other notes and special bits.
posted by pineapple at 8:32 PM on August 1, 2010
That sounds truly wonderful, but I would agree that a heartfelt letter on nice stationary is enough. Perhaps I'm not clear on the level of your relationship with her, but as a recent college grad, I would be taken aback to receive something of high value from my elementary school teacher, even if I did just thank her for getting me where I am today. I believe it is her place to do the thanking...and she did. You have done your job of being a great teacher. If I was in her situation, I would not want anything, but simply kind words and knowing how much I affected someone is more than enough (as seen by the effects of her letter to you).
posted by lacedcoffee at 12:10 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by lacedcoffee at 12:10 AM on August 2, 2010
When I graduated high school, one of my mom's relatives sent me a John Ciardi book along with a letter describing why Ciardi's work meant so much to her. Over twenty years later and I still think about the letter and about her.
So I suggest something of the sort - something meaningful to you along with a letter explaining why.
posted by telophase at 8:23 AM on August 2, 2010
So I suggest something of the sort - something meaningful to you along with a letter explaining why.
posted by telophase at 8:23 AM on August 2, 2010
Response by poster: Pineapple, that was EXACTLY what I was looking for!! Box ordered, I'm going to work on the letter until it comes. Thank you for the suggestion on One Heart!! Perfect!!! I will probably put an etsy giftcard (do they do those?) in with my letter. The box was very reasonable.....Great Suggestion!!!
posted by pearlybob at 11:49 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 11:49 AM on August 2, 2010
Response by poster: May still do the domain name....that was a great idea as well...
posted by pearlybob at 11:50 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 11:50 AM on August 2, 2010
Response by poster: For Bwithh ; My student's email response to getting her domain name.. I told her the mushy gift ( the one heart box) was still to come..
MISS _____________ (and Mr., too) !!!!
I do not think, in the history of the Internet, that there has ever been more tears shed over a web address. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Not only is the the most thoughtful and genius-tastic gift in the world ever, but it comes from YOU, oh nurturer of creativity in my most formative years! The only gift more precious involves contributing one half of a person's genetic material.
Bring on the mush, I can't wait, and I can't thank you enough.
Having been a teacher is AWESOME!
posted by pearlybob at 8:31 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
MISS _____________ (and Mr., too) !!!!
I do not think, in the history of the Internet, that there has ever been more tears shed over a web address. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Not only is the the most thoughtful and genius-tastic gift in the world ever, but it comes from YOU, oh nurturer of creativity in my most formative years! The only gift more precious involves contributing one half of a person's genetic material.
Bring on the mush, I can't wait, and I can't thank you enough.
Having been a teacher is AWESOME!
posted by pearlybob at 8:31 PM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
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How about a book?
posted by copperykeen at 4:15 PM on August 1, 2010