Towards the end of the year— when our cultural nature to consume grows into days of camping in the cold and trampling mobs— us college students are faced with the overwhelming panic of having to dip into our limited, sometimes nonexistent, most likely negative funds. The idea of not being able to give during the holiday season is daunting but does not rule out innovation.
With pressed finances and inflexible schedules, our visits with friends and family become less frequent and are often only accomplished during special occasions. This in mind, don’t be hesitant to give the gift of time. Grace your loved ones with more of your presence and perhaps share what has been keeping you so busy. Nurses, fascinate your cousins with abundance of germs surrounding us every day. Business men and women, assist in financing the family get-together.
Gifts have the potential to stem from what we learn in college but can also be produced from funny things life hands us, like generation gaps. The majority of us were born into the digital age while some of those close to us have had to learn common technological processes. Consider investing some days or hours in educating an uncle on the differences between Apple and Android products, or offer grandma a texting workshop—with proper coaching in the use of “OMG’s” and “LOL’s,” of course.
In making clear that these are indeed our gifts, nothing says formality like a well-written card. Accompanying one of these favors with some thoughtful words will make for a surprisingly personalized gift.
In addition to your educational training in the realm of writing (in some cases very minimal GE courses), know that the gift of meaningful words is powerful and also simple. Draw on an intensely specific memory you have with or about this person, compliment them, perhaps even make fun of them, and end on a note that says “I still love you.”
Rather than add to financial burdens this holiday, we can prove ingenious and resourceful in turning the gifts we’ve acquired into gifts to be given.