From hoverboards to slime, Pokemon cards, to electric scooters, Christmas lists have evolved with the times. With trends constantly changing, it’s tough to know what makes a good Christmas gift. Social media, celebrities, and advertisements all shape what students want from year to year.
The best tip is to know your recipient. What are their hobbies? What things do they need? What makes them happy? What are their plans for the future? What are things that make them laugh?
If you don’t know your recipient very well, one of the best ways to understand their interests is through a Secret Santa survey.
Classes like Newspaper and ASB are both holding Secret Santa gift exchanges this holiday season. Students spend anywhere from $5 – 10 on small gift items to then give to their designated person.
Secret Santa gift exchanges are a great way to build excitement at the end of the semester and ease the stress of finals.
In terms of practical gifts, products from the Apple ecosystem make great gifts for high school seniors or future college students. Whether it’s a Macbook, iPad, or Apple Watch, there’s something special about Apple products that seemingly boost productivity.
“I could use an iPad for college next year to take cute notes,” said Darlene Flores (‘24).
Apple products typically have large price tags, often leaving people wondering if it’s worth the investment. To ease the financial burden, buying Apple products between June 5th and October 2nd can qualify students for an education discount, getting hundreds of dollars off.
As a child, most of us had one far-fetched item that we begged our parents for despite knowing it was unlikely we would get it. A new Xbox, Playstation, hoverboard, or in Holly Kranz’s case, a horse. Except, unlike most of us, Holly got her gift.
“I was obsessed with horses as a kid and Aria’s previous owner wasn’t able to take care of her, it ended up working out perfectly,” said Holly Kranz (‘24).
Holly and Aria compete together in equestrian races. It never hurts to ask for a far-fetched gift, especially when those gifts are 5 feet tall and become a built-in best friend.
In terms of more realistic items for the holiday season, there’s a wide range of gift options students are asking for.
“The main thing [on my list] is Uggs, my fits would be a lot better,” Amanda Pyles (‘24) said.
Uggs don’t only improve fits but they also have thermostatic sheepskin known to maintain foot temperature while also wicking away moisture. This rainy season, we all need dry feet.
As a kid, Amanda always wanted a small plastic electric Jeep. Specifically, the 2010-style pink Jeep Wrangler.
The Wrangler was and still is a staple in American culture, so much so that some parents felt the need to give their kids a mini version to drive around the neighborhood.
Receiving gifts tends to take center stage during the holiday season, but it’s important to remember that the main goal of the holidays is to spend time with family, and friends, and rejuvenate before school starts back up in January.
