# Graduation Time: Ideas for a girl graduating high school **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389 "2010-05-22T18:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/21 "2010-05-25T18:11:15Z")
If you’re looking for something a little different and you know what college she’ll be going to, you might get her gift cards for local pizza places and sub shops in that town. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/22 "2010-05-25T18:17:32Z")
I would suggest something sentimental that she can keep forever, like nice jewelry. My parents got me some (small) diamond earrings for my high school graduation and a strand of pearls for my college graduation. I still wear both and think of my parents when I do. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/23 "2010-05-25T20:55:54Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I lot of places don’t use coin-op laundry any more – they have these cards you swipe, with a balance that you adjust using cash or a credit card. So the coins might be a cute gift or not, depending on her university. They may not work in the machines, but stuffed into the leg of panthose they are perfect for hazing! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/24 "2010-05-26T01:37:38Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Another sure-fire winner–Small tool set. She WILL need some basic tools. Here’s what I would include: > –One of those Buck Bros. screwdrivers with the different heads built in. > –A smallish pliers (or a multitool) > –A smallish hammer > –A utility knife with extra blades > –A tape measure > –A small assortment of nails, screws, cuphooks, etc. (you can buy a pre-made one or throw some of your own extra stuff in a baggie.) > –Duct tape > –Whatever else you think is a good idea. IF you do a Google for 'Pink Tools," you will find a company that sells sets of good-quality tools in nice kits, all done in girlie pink. The best thing about that is they will not be stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/25 "2010-05-26T01:52:55Z")
A shitty laptop for her to take to class, assuming she hasn’t already got one. Even if she’s already got a desktop, having a laptop you don’t have to obsessively look after is a big help. Failing that, a Target gift card. All college students everywhere love Target. I have no idea why. I also love Target. I have no idea why. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/26 "2010-05-26T03:47:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I also love Target. I have no idea why. Because it’s cheap but it’s not junky like Wal-Mart. It has everything reasonably priced. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/27 "2010-05-26T06:34:22Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > IF you do a Google for 'Pink Tools," you will find a company that sells sets of good-quality tools in nice kits, all done in girlie pink. The best thing about that is they will not be stolen. Well, the GUYS probably won’t steal those tools, it’s true. And if you’re gonna get tools, do make sure that they’re good quality tools. Trying to tighten a screw and having the screwdriver blade deform under pressure is aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/28 "2010-05-26T13:49:04Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > IF you do a Google for 'Pink Tools," you will find a company that sells sets of good-quality tools in nice kits, all done in girlie pink. The best thing about that is they will not be stolen. No. People will borrow tools and forget to give them back, but the remedy for that is marking them with nail polish or colored electrical tape. The solution is NOT to play into the “I’m a (mostly) helpless female” stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/29 "2010-05-26T14:25:25Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > No. > > People will borrow tools and forget to give them back, but the remedy for that is marking them with nail polish or colored electrical tape. The solution is NOT to play into the “I’m a (mostly) helpless female” stereotype. I don’t see how “pink” is playing into the “helpless female” stereotype when we’re talking about a pink set of tools here. To me it says “Hey, not only am I the kind of chick who likes pink, I’m the kind of chick who uses tools.” ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/30 "2010-05-26T14:50:51Z")
I’ve seen tool sets that come in designs other than pink, BTW, like floral or polka-dot. Not finding a link right now. I’m sure you can get better quality tools for cheaper and customize them as **Green Bean** describes if that’s an interesting idea, though. I don’t agree with \*\*GB \*\*about pink tools playing into the stereotype. I think the “pink = helpless-type girlie-girl” is either mostly over or due to be over soon. I like “girlie-girls can be as hardcore as they wanna be, even in fuchsia head to toe” much better. I’m not endorsing her or the show or anything, but there is [a chick](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paige_Hemmis) on the _Extreme Makeover Home Edition_ TV show who seems always to wear and use pink gear, including her hard-hat – doesn’t slow her down with the (pink) demolition sledgehammer etc. a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/31 "2010-05-26T15:07:18Z")
A gift I received that I’d never have though of myself is a set of marble bookends! They looked great on my shelf in my dorm room, and I’ve still got them. Yes, they’re heavy but not unreasonably so. I know when I was in the dorm it was nice to have a few nice things, just to remind me I wasn’t living in plastic cheapo hell. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/32 "2010-05-26T15:07:21Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > To me it says “Hey, not only am I the kind of chick who likes pink, I’m the kind of chick who uses tools.” The phrase “the kind of chick who uses tools” is exactly the problem–that the fact that she uses tools is somehow unusual or remarkable. Would you say “He’s the kind of a guy who knows how to use tools?” No, because it’s assumed that guys know how to use at least simple hand tools. (even though I’ve run into _plenty_ of guys who don’t know how to operate a screwdriver) ETA–any chick that regularly uses a sledgehammer, including myself, gets a pass. I lost Sledgie Jr. in the divorce. ☹ He was 8 pounds of pure destructive joy. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/33 "2010-05-26T15:16:31Z")
My college roommate just _loved_ pink. Everything was pink. With animal print accents. She was a really cool roommate, and I’m still friends with her, but she did love her pink. She actually made me think “Fuck it, hot pink is cute sometimes.” But pink gifts really only work if she’s into girly motifs. Some girls embrace it, some will :rolleyes: internally. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/34 "2010-05-26T15:51:24Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > The phrase “the kind of chick who uses tools” is exactly the problem–that the fact that she uses tools is somehow unusual or remarkable. **Would you say “He’s the kind of a guy who knows how to use tools?”** No, because it’s assumed that guys know how to use at least simple hand tools. (even though I’ve run into _plenty_ of guys who don’t know how to operate a screwdriver) As a matter of fact, yes, yes I would. Assuming anyone knows how to use basic tools these days is kind of a crapshoot. Some people use tools. Some people are women. Some people prefer pink. Sometimes someone exists in the center section of that Venn diagram, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/35 "2010-05-27T00:27:51Z")
Does she have an iPod? If not, get her one. If she does, get her the iHome alarm clock to go with it. Plays music AND wakes them up for class! It’s what I got for my little sister last year when she graduated; she requested it specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/36 "2010-05-27T13:26:34Z")
> [@Sue\_Duhnym](#): > > Does she have an iPod? If not, get her one. If she does, get her the iHome alarm clock to go with it. Plays music AND wakes them up for class!. Heck I got one of these for my middle schooler — the clock/radio dock, I mean. I highly recommend them for encouraging kids to take responsibility for waking up and getting ready on their ownsomes. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/37 "2010-06-01T04:39:19Z")
Thanks for all of the ideas, guys! I am wavering on the Dr. Seuss book idea. I love Dr. Seuss. But, that book seems like such a cliched grad gift that I worry that I run the danger of adding mine to a large pile. It just seems like over the years it gets mentioned in pop culture so much that everyone gets it. (I am still considering it. Or maybe I will go the Michael Scott route and give Green Eggs and Ham.) I love the cook book idea! But, I am going to back pocket it until she jumps on from dorm life. Sue, your ipod clock idea is brilliant. Once I make sure she has an iPod I am going to go that route as one of her gifts. Thanks so much everyone. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/38 "2010-06-02T01:28:18Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Thanks for all of the ideas, guys! > > I am wavering on the Dr. Seuss book idea. I love Dr. Seuss. But, that book seems like such a cliched grad gift that I worry that I run the danger of adding mine to a large pile. It just seems like over the years it gets mentioned in pop culture so much that everyone gets it. (I am still considering it. Or maybe I will go the Michael Scott route and give Green Eggs and Ham.) My senior class president was an idiot pothead that people voted for as a big joke, because people thought it would be hilarious for her to speak at graduation. It wasn’t hilarious, it was sad and pathetic when she read “Oh The Places You’ll Go”. I can’t even make this up - her speech was “I’m going to say what Dr. Seuss said best. _cracks open book_ Oh The Places You’ll Go…” I don’t think she ran the speech by anyone, or maybe she did and changed it. Either way, everyone was absolutely horrified. Especially since we didn’t think it could get any worse after Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Labor was our featured speaker. So please, don’t get her the book. She’ll appreciate the ipod docking station much more. ---
**Author:** ![lucassmart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lucassmart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucassmart)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/39 "2010-06-09T09:32:45Z")
I think a backpack is an excellent, useful idea. Get her this Briggs & Riley [backpack](http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/productDetail.aspx?id=Backpack_TD-331). It’s currently on sale and she’s going to love it if she’s thinking of going to college. It even has a separate compartment for a laptop. While you’re on their website, don’t forget to register for their sweepstakes ([http://www.briggs-riley.com/adventure-luggage-sweepstakes/](http://www.briggs-riley.com/adventure-luggage-sweepstakes/)). Who knows, if you are in luck, you may even win yourself or your goddaughter a sponsored trip to Iceland! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389/40 "2010-06-09T10:38:18Z")
A brick of ramen noodle soup, a pyrex bowl and a large spoon. I’m not kidding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduation-time-ideas-for-a-girl-graduating-high-school/540389.md?page=3)