PA students, do not give up! A mountain of exams looms nearer, but the holidays are on the horizon. Our materialistic culture dictates that this means presents, so don’t think you’re off the hook this year just because our economy’s got the flu. Don’t selfishly engage in the school-wide cram-session this weekend—in the spirit of the holidays, do some shopping for your family, friends and, of course, the adults on campus. If you’re shopping for roommates: Posters – Posters make great, inexpensive gifts for a roommate, and the possibilities are endless. From the cast of your favorite TV show, to your choice athlete, your gift will be an enduring reminder of your friendship. Locations for purchase include the Rockingham and Burlington Malls and Allposters.com. DVD’s – DVD’s are great gifts for roommates who are always looking to borrow a movie or for a boyfriend/girlfriend with whom you hope to watch. Blockbusters in North Andover and Lawrence carry an excellent selection of movies, and a limited supply can be purchased at CVS as well. Give a new release, such as Iron Man, Entourage Season 4 or Wall-E, or a movie that can be watched repeatedly, like Wedding Crashers or The Graduate. If you’re shopping for Friends: CD Mix – Burn your favorite pump-up mix for all your teammates, make a CD of new releases for your friends before everyone buys them on iTunes, or make a playlist of songs that have special significance to you and a friend. Photo Album – Sentimental and inexpensive, there are two options for giving photo albums. Take the time to find and print pictures of you and your friends for a timeless gift that will be cherished for years. Or, for someone you don’t know as well, you could give an empty album for your recipient to fill up him or herself. Candy/Chocolate – This classic holiday present can be gifted to just about anyone on your list. Sweet Mimi’s offers an assortment of festive holiday candies: a box of chocolates for your girlfriend or a handful of penny-candy to put in your friends’ mailboxes. If you’re shopping for your parents: If you want to start off with a quick and easy retail purchase, mothers are the most straightforward to shop for. You can buy clothes (if you know the appropriate sizes), bath soaps, or items to decorate the house. For example, picture frames, candles and other little knickknacks are great for making a room feel homier. For a father, gifts related to his favorite sport are usually good. Books or accessories like a wallet or phone case work too. Avoid clichéd gifts such as ties or socks-it shows you didn’t put much thought into your choices. If you’re shopping for teachers and coaches: When you’re shopping for presents this year, don’t forget about the adults (besides your family) in your life. Yes, you heard me, adults. While no one expects you to buy each of your teachers a Porsche (although you could, I suppose, if you’re hoping your GPA will perk up after that 13% on your physics test), if you find yourself downtown, frantically buying holiday paraphernalia for friends and family, consider adding a teacher, a house counselor, a coach or your mailman to your list. But what does one give an adult? Our advice: keep it simple. An easy and inexpensive idea is to write a thank you note. Depending on your relationship with the adult in question, these notes can be vague or packed with inside jokes as long as they remain sincere. Keep them short; the last thing your English teacher wants to do is read another essay over vacation. The language should be simple and genuine, with nothing too pretentious or flowery. Remember, this is a “thank you” note, not a love letter. Nevertheless, at least try to make it look nice. Purchase some simple stationary and a good-quality pen, carefully jot down a short paragraph (minus the clichés, please) and hand-deliver it. If a thank you note seems too easy for a chronic over-achiever like you, a more creative option requires knowledge of your recipient’s personality. House counselors who like to bake, for example will be thrilled with a copy of a family recipe, a brownie mix, or a cookbook from the Andover Bookstore. Caffeine addicts will appreciate a Starbucks coffee mix or a box of Sweet Mimi’s chocolates. Books are also suitable, but keep all gifts around $10-$15 ($20 maximum). Beware of expensive gifts, as they could be perceived as bribery. Although teachers appreciate gifts, holiday presents are not mandatory. Therefore, if you find yourself leaving Andover next Friday having forgotten to leave presents for your teachers, do not despair. You can always ship them each a framed portrait of Sarah Palin for their mantelpieces… Or not.
