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With commencement ceremonies just around the corner, commemorate the big event with sentimental presents perfectly suited to such a rite of passage.

1. Life Lessons
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. wanted to offer guidance and advice to his son when he penned the now-familiar bestseller, "Life's Little Instruction Book," and gave it to his child before he left home for college. For a truly special gift, write down some of the wisdom you have gathered from a lifetime of mistakes and successes and pass it along to your graduate. Plus, even if you think he or she isn't willing to listen now, there will come a day when those thoughts and hopes are appreciated.

2. Home Theater
Another great way to celebrate how far a graduate has come and all that lies ahead of her or him is to give a video gift. Maybe you'd like to take the old family movies that have been sitting around for the past 18 years or so and put them on DVD. Or, maybe you'd like to make a new video sharing how proud you are on this special day and what you hope for your graduate in the years to come. Either choice expresses the sentiments that come with this important transition in your and your graduate's life.

3. A Piece of History
Passing down family heirlooms is a great way to share your family's history and celebrate its future. If you're thinking about giving an heirloom to the graduate in your life, sit down and write the story of the piece to accompany the gift. You can explain who in the family has owned the heirloom, who they were and why you want your graduate to have it now. This provides you the opportunity to ensure that the family's past will be carried into the years ahead.

4. Arts & Crafts
Another great way to commemorate a graduate's accomplishment is with a quilt. Experts can probably go for a blanket that combines bits of baby clothes and other significant childhood wear, while novices might try something a bit simpler. If your graduate has an overflowing t-shirt collection, try picking out some of the most significant of those shirts (big track meets, school clubs, etc.) and using the tees as the squares of the quilt. The resulting blanket and its memories will last a lot longer than those t-shirts would be if left to the whims of dormitory washing machines.

5. Updated Albums
With the space confines and other potential pitfalls of dorm life, handing the family photo albums over to a recent grad probably isn't the wisest choice. Instead of worrying about scrapbooks and bulky albums, digitize the family photos and pass along a computer-friendly version to your graduate. He or she will have a comforting piece of home, and you won't have to worry that the one picture of Aunt Marva on her 80th birthday will end up on the wrong side of a beer funnel.

6. Bon Voyage
It can be fairly common to gift a graduate with a celebratory trip, but, for a truly memorable event, why not give the whole family a vacation? Graduation is a great time to bring everyone together. You might even want to consider recreating a favorite family trip of the past or re-visiting a frequent destination from the younger days of the family.

7. Chow Down
For many families, pieces of the past are passed down through stories, photos and heirlooms- as well as food. As your graduate heads off to college and the great unknown of cafeteria dining, prepare a family cook book of the food preparations passed down from generation to generation as well as recipes for other family favorites and holiday staples. Even if there's no space for home-cooked meals in your graduate's quareters, just having the recipes will be a great reminder of home and family.

Ready for more? Return to the Life at Home section.