University gift

[Vali2]

I apologise to anyone if this is an insensitive thread with everything going on at the moment but I'm after some advice.

I currently work with an amazing teenager who is off to university this year and has just got in, and the whole group of staff would like to chip in and get her some gifts, because while there's a difference between her age and everyone else's, she has become a close friend to many of us and a delight to work with.

We were thinking of creating her a mini uni survival kit, so a little box with some pens, a door stop, paracetamol, cold and flu tablets, sticky notes etc as well as a bottle of something nice.

Non of us have ever been to uni and all have young kids at the moment so are not too sure if this is a good idea or not?

Lol! Thought I'd read the thread before posting....

A bottle opener on a keyring is always useful to have! I got one as a student and ever since I have always kept one on my keys.

Ibuprofen rather than paracetamol, unless shes allergic.

Paractamol isn't recommended for hangovers because it's prcessed in the liver.

I'd have liked a good quality saucepan/frying pan - a huge fluffy bath towel - or a casserole dish for cooking for one. i remember being shocked at how much it cost setting myself up with basics.

Some adult friends did this for me when I went to uni. Things I really remember from the box included:

• highlighter pens
• sticky page markers
• fancy post-it notes
• student cook book
• got chocolate
• Fancy biscuits
• sweets/chocolates
• door stop
• fairy lights

This is adorable. I don't have any suggestions to add, but I think it's a lovely idea and you sound like great work colleagues.

Lovely idea! Command poster tabs (to stick posters to walls) for some reason everyone had posters at uni! A student cookbook, alcohol, eyemask and microwave steamer!

Thank you everyone, everyone saying we're so nice is so sweet but we're just repaying her for all her help really.

Some other great suggestions, will a plastic box be ok or will it feel a bit cheap?

A plastic box will be fine, she'll be more excited about what's in it and then the box will be helpful! My sister did this in a shoe box but covered the shoebox with wrapping paper type stuff.

Most of what she put in has been mentioned, but she also put in a ready-mix for cookies. I baked growing up and she knew that's harder in a student kitchen - I ate it one evening during a film night with a new friend!

I still have the box 7 years later. It's truly a lovely gift and she sounds like a star.

Thank you, now just need to go and grab all the bits and write the little note we're going to attach to it.

We were going to write a note just thanking her for being a great colleague and friend and then just list all the things we've got her, with some funny little statements for each one, eg Ibuprofen for the hangover, pens to pretend to do your work etc

Apologies if my suggestions have already been said. Uni lecturer here and love your idea. Shows so much thought.
One of the biggest issues that I see in the first few weeks is obviously “feeling homesick”. People often shrug it off but it is a real thing for students, especially if it’s their first proper time away.
I love the idea of a physical photobook. Actually printed out which feels meaningful as you had to help create it.
My friends also got a journal which gets passed around family and friends. People leave notes, advice, recipes etc. They loved making it, so I’ve ordered it today funny enough-Wherever you go, take us with you, on Amazon (bit of a cheesy title). It might fit really well with what you’ve done so far however.
I suggested this on another thread but one way in which I see people cheer up is when they really start to make friends. Why not pay for membership of a society for them? There are so many and not just sport and drama like when I was an Undergraduate. There’s languages, cooking, anime, politics even things like Pokémon societies. That might really help them settle in.
Hope this helps.

https://amzn.eu/d/0aD5ZyZc here’s the link if it helps. Sorry if I’ve posted a few times. New to mumsnet and it keeps cutting out.

@Dadiotri this is a zombie thread and the question was asked 6 years ago.