While some say graduating from college is a gift in and of itself, many departing UA seniors will be receiving a little bit more than a diploma from family and friends after four – or more – years of hard work.
From vacations with friends to new cars to monetary gifts for just about everything imaginable, many seniors will be cashing in come graduation time this week.
Matt Laskin, an anthropology senior, said in a few weeks he will be going on a month-long trip to Europe, which was made possible by his parents.
Laskin, who will be traveling by train with his friend and fellow graduate Brian Elisco, said they will start in England and go to the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and France.
My parents joked that my graduation gift is college itself. You gotta love out-of-state tuition.
– Lindsey Robinson, political science senior
“”I am really excited to visit London, Amsterdam and Rome,”” Laskin said. “”I can’t wait to see some of the beacons of world history and great art.””
Though Laskin said he has family friends in England he wants to visit, the vacation is primarily for sightseeing and traveling to areas he has “”always dreamed of seeing,”” especially sites in Rome and Paris where he has never been.
“”My dad backpacked through Europe when he was in college, so he passed that dream on to me,”” Laskin said. “”I really want to just take a break, step back and see where I want to go with the rest of my life.””
Lindsey Robinson, a political science senior, said while she expects to receive some smaller assorted gifts from family and friends, the most exciting gift she will get upon graduating is a new car from her grandparents.
“”My parents joked that my graduation gift is college itself,”” said Robinson, who is from Texas. “”You gotta love out-of-state tuition.””
She said her grandparents are getting her a new car because her sister is turning 16 soon and Robinson will be giving her old Honda Accord to her.
Jordan Secore, a media arts senior, said his parents will buy him furniture for his new apartment in Phoenix, which he considers more worthwhile and beneficial to him in the long run.
“”It seems like the typical gifts for seniors are having parents buy their kids a new car,”” Secore said. “”Furniture can be very expensive to purchase right out of college, and not having to worry about paying for it will be nice.””
