Imagine going to a large event like a concert or an NBA game, and the parking lot is full. You have nowhere to park, and the closest parking spot is a mile away from the event. Now imagine it is winter and you forgot a jacket. Would it not be more convenient to be able to park as close as you want? Well, the seniors at Lewis Cass are able to do just this.
Each year, the seniors at Lewis Cass are able to paint a parking spot and keep it as their own for the low, low price of $25. The price covers not only the paint used to recover the old paint, but also any extra money goes towards a senior picnic at the end of the school year, according to Mrs. Bielanski. The students are able to park in their designated spot for the entirety of the school year. They are allowed to paint it as complex or as simple as they want. These spots are located closest to the entrance of the school. In July, the students get a designated week to paint their spot. Family, friends, and girlfriends or boyfriends are able to help paint, and most of the time do. In July, the scorching sun beams down on the painters. Most people bring tents for protection, but some, like myself, let the sun roast them for a last-minute summer tan before school starts.
Students at Lewis Cass were not always able to paint parking spots. The serene activity started in August of 2019 and has become a beloved tradition ever since. This is one tradition at Cass that not every school around does. In 2019, students had to cover their parking spots before they were allowed to graduate. Fortunately, now the maintenance crew does that chore for us, and Mrs. Bielanski agrees as well. When asked if she believed students should be the ones to paint back over the spots, she said safety is a big concern when covering them up. She also believes the maintenance staff does a more efficient job at covering up the spots.
Each parking spot is unique and has its own backstory. Many parking spots included a collage of students’ favorites. Other parking spots included people’s favorite hobbies, favorite animals, favorite Bible verses, favorite songs, and even favorite books. Lewis Cass senior, Hailee Roeske, says she went to Pinterest for ideas, as do many others. One student even went to ChatGPT and had the AI bot create a parking spot for her that included her favorite animals.
What a clever way to use AI! These spots taught people to step outside of their comfort zone. For some people, this was the first time painting anything. For others, this was another artistic activity they enjoyed. Having painted spots is not only enjoyable for the students, but also for the staff. Staff members enjoy walking by and seeing the painted parking spots. This lets them truly see the students’ personalities.
Though every parking spot turned out stunning this year, many students faced hardships when painting. According to Hailee Roeske, she did not think she would spend so many hours on it like she did. She also says that paint is not the cheapest, and you have to use a lot of it. These points are definitely something to consider before buying your spot.
Although there are a few cons to consider before buying a parking spot, the positives outweigh the negatives. When asked, Hailee Roeske says she is very glad she painted a parking spot and would do it again. She says she had a fun time painting with friends, and she is glad she has a personalized spot just for her to use.
These parking spots have not only shown off people’s painting abilities, but have also brought classmates together. Throughout the week, many reminisce on their past three years of high school while painting. These parking spots give us seniors one last chance to spend quality time with family and friends before the start of the new school year, and the best part? You do not have to walk as far to get into the school!
