I didn’t graduate high school or college.

My parents paid $5k/yr of my college tuition.

NOTHING
NOTHING
NOTHING
NOTHING


NO INHERITANCE
NOTHING
NO LIFE INSURANCE
NOTHING BUT DEBTS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the story about the parents being so proud. My parents were proud of me, as well, although I don't remember them gushing. But I definitely knew.

They actually had a weird experience where they met up with my dad's fraternity brothers right before I graduated college. They all seemed to have stories of how their kids struggled with school, drugs, etc. When the group got around to asking "how's your daughter?", my parents almost felt bad saying "well, she's about to graduate from a top college with honors just after turning 21 and plans to move to DC..." I mean, they were super proud and happy that I had done well, of course. It was just awkward.

There's no reason they had to say that. They could have said "Thanks for asking; she's doing well," and then moved on. They didn't need to brag. You can say someone's about to graduate without saying it's from a top college or with honors. And planning to move to DC is not some accomplishment. So gross and disgusting.

This happened almost 25 years ago and this is my recollection of their recounting of the gathering. Pretty sure they didn’t say it exactly in that manner, and that the details came out a little more naturally during conversation. I was summarizing and paraphrasing a bit.

I didn’t grow up here or attend college here, so moving here right after college without a stop home first was at least of note.

They were just happy that they had nothing unfortunate to share. My parents both worked with kids that struggled and were happy that I had been a good kid for the most part that had done well with school, activities and friendships. They are proud and also consider themselves lucky.

My parents bought me an old used car for college so I could get myself to the job that paid for my college.

Nothing for high school. I don't think that was a thing. Dinner out, maybe?

High school I got a set of matching luggage. I still have one piece of it here!

For college I got a briefcase that I also still have here!

No gift. Didn’t expect one. It’s not as if graduation wasn’t the bare minimum they expected from us, after all.

I didn't get a specific HS graduation present that I recall but they bought me a new luxury car just before I turned 17 my junior year. In college, I got another brand new car right before I graduated. They also gifted me over 100K when I finished graduate school for a down payment on my first home.

Anonymous wrote:I love the story about the parents being so proud. My parents were proud of me, as well, although I don't remember them gushing. But I definitely knew.

They actually had a weird experience where they met up with my dad's fraternity brothers right before I graduated college. They all seemed to have stories of how their kids struggled with school, drugs, etc. When the group got around to asking "how's your daughter?", my parents almost felt bad saying "well, she's about to graduate from a top college with honors just after turning 21 and plans to move to DC..." I mean, they were super proud and happy that I had done well, of course. It was just awkward.

There's no reason they had to say that. They could have said "Thanks for asking; she's doing well," and then moved on. They didn't need to brag. You can say someone's about to graduate without saying it's from a top college or with honors. And planning to move to DC is not some accomplishment. So gross and disgusting.

Anonymous wrote:The gift was my parents paying for my college (in-state) tuition. And flowers. No present upon graduating, but I also realize the immense privilege I was in to have had my college experience paid for.

I couldn't imagine feeling entitled to more than that.

Shut up.

I love the story about the parents being so proud. My parents were proud of me, as well, although I don't remember them gushing. But I definitely knew.

They actually had a weird experience where they met up with my dad's fraternity brothers right before I graduated college. They all seemed to have stories of how their kids struggled with school, drugs, etc. When the group got around to asking "how's your daughter?", my parents almost felt bad saying "well, she's about to graduate from a top college with honors just after turning 21 and plans to move to DC..." I mean, they were super proud and happy that I had done well, of course. It was just awkward.

HS: trip to France

college: nothing, I wrote them a thank you note for paying for everything for 4 years

HS graduation - I don't remember anything in particular, but I know I got some practical items for a dorm room. New set of sheets & bedding (I had a double bed at home vs twin at the dorm), shower caddy kit for walking down the hall, stuff like that. Some new clothes as I was planning to move to a different climate for college.

College - the biggest thing was financial contribution to some post-college certification training, and some supplies for that training.

No gift. I'm from Europe and in most European countries, typically there is no gift tradition for these things, and indeed no graduation ceremony. My parents did buy stuff for my first rental apartment, and practical items after the birth of my children.

The most valuable gifts however, are their visits to us in the US. They haven't flown since 2018. With cases rising again in Europe I fear they might not come this year, as I wished. They're getting old and each time cases go down after a surge, by the time they muster up the courage to think about travel, cases are already going up again... We visit them, of course, but it would have been nice for them to come here too.

I know my mom took me to get a fancy french braid done for my high school graduation, and I didn't like it because I just wanted a regular french braid. I can't remember any gifts from my parents for high school or college. My mother insisted on throwing me a HS graduation party even though I kept saying I did NOT want one. No friends came because I didn't have any, which is why I didn't want one. My father finally had to tell my older brother to invite some of his friends over to eat all the extra food. My brother's godparents gave me a box of stationery from Tiffany, which I still have.