With such a large enrollment this year, parking became a new problem; but is problem really the right word for it?
Students constantly complain because there is never a space for them to park, yet everyone’s car magically ends up somewhere.
I was guilty of complaining myself when there was not a parking spot right outside Bennett. I even complained if the only spot I could get was behind Atkinson I was that person who frequently checked the parking lot for open spots, and when they became available, I would rush out and move my car for no other reason than I wanted to be right outside my hall. My car would sit in that perfect spot for two to three days unused, but I was satisfied knowing that it was right there. In front. Oh yeah.
The other night I walked in from the front parking lot (of course there was no parking outside Bennett and Brown at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, I was silly to even hope), and I grumbled as I hauled my stuff all this way and then I realized-It’s not that far.
I am grumbling about an extra two minutes added to my walk when college students on other campuses would be overjoyed to park less than five minutes away from their hall. Those same students also pay over $200 a semester to park in certain places. On top of all that the school sells more parking spaces than there are spots!
Not only are we lucky to have parking right outside our dorms, but we also have a few other options not too far away when those fill up.
Plus, it’s free. We do not have a parking problem at this school; we just need to make some adjustments. Walking is a great idea. Before you go to get in your car ask yourself if it is absolutely necessary that you drive there.
Sometimes our desired location is within walking distance, but it goes unnoticed because we are so accustomed to driving.
Now this realization will not stop me from running out to move my car when I see an open spot, but I will try to keep my complaining to a minimum.
The reality is that we don’t have it too bad, and if enrollment keeps increasing this way, the situation will only get worse from here. I encourage everyone to be ridiculously happy when you find that amazing spot right up front, but when you have to walk that extra few minutes, just take a breath of fresh air and enjoy it.