Graduation Gifts
If you have ever worked alongside a student, you know what a milestone achievement graduation is for the student. Graduation represents a time of celebration as well as a time of change, as the student will most likely continue to pursue new ventures in their life such as further education, professions, traveling, and marriage just to name a few. As a youth worker I want to make sure the students I work with have a solid foundation to stand on during these pursuits. As a person of faith in Jesus, I teach Christ and Christ alone to my students, as all pursuits built on Him and Him alone will stand.
So during this time I try to give gifts that share these truths and ideas, but at the same time can be used by the student during the good times as well as the times of doubt and hardship (as the world can be a very lonely place for a follower of Christ without community) as they continue to pursue and experience God in their life. As graduation season approaches and you look around for the right graduation gift for your student(s), here are a few ideas I have found handy in years past…
YOUTH CALENDAR
During my first year of college I asked one of the guys in my hall what day it was, he looked at his calendar on his desk and told me the date. I said thanks and noticed that it wasn’t an ordinary calendar, but each month page had a calendar, a collage of pictures of his youth group, and quote or word of encouragement. Though there wasn’t a lot to read on this practical gift from his youth pastor and youth group, he remembered that there was a group of people who loved him and were praying for him on his spiritual life journey.
WRITING SOMETHING FOR YOUR STUDENTS
A passionate colleague of mine for both the gospel and students, Jon Morrison, could not find a gift for his students that he felt prepared them for life as a Christian after High School, so he wrote a book for his graduating students. The book tackles and answers such questions as, “what are you going to do after high school? What is the purpose of my existence on earth? How come people never achieve their dreams? Does God have anything to say about my life?” Here is the book if you want to check it out… ‘There’s Something I Think You Should Know.’ A shameless plug I know, but that is what you get for being friends with me.
The truth is there are so many questions that a young graduate must answer and they could use a little help figuring it out. So if you pick up the pen, let us know and post it on the site.
BOOKS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO READ
Getting a gift for your students during this special time needs to be more than just a fancy something or other, because these teens are now going into work spaces, universities, and other places of different thoughts that may challenge their beliefs, and if they do not have a foundation they can stand on, there is a good chance they may fall for anything or just fall away. A few suggestions of gifts that may help your student is a book of prayers, daily devotionals, discipleship and apologetic books, etc. Basically, books that will encourage them while at the same time deepen their understanding of their faith.
Book Examples: Valley of Vision, My Utmost for His Highest (student edition), Do Hard Things
As you can tell this is not an extensive suggestion list, but I hope it gets the ideas rolling and gets your attention focused on the importance of this time. If you have any insight or thoughts from your own experience, please send it to the site and we will post it right away.
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Matt Johnson is the high school youth pastor at Coquitlam Alliance Church. He is saved by grace and loves the opportunity of serving youth ministry with his wife Kat.
