The Senior Lot of OHS is where many students find their parking throughout the school year. For one final year, seniors often get spaces nearest to the gym entrance. For many, this is just a temporary place to park their vehicles, but the lot can mean much more than that. At many schools, students are given assigned parking spots that they can paint leading up to their senior year.
Decorating the parking spots in the Senior Lot can add a lot of character to Orono High School. Having a parking lot that was designed and filled out by students reflects on the community we have as a school, and it shows that the school is not only made up of teachers and staff, but it also represents the students in the building.
Not only does it show character as a school, but it also adds school spirit. A fully painted parking lot adds another piece of belonging, similar to school spirit weeks, where we all represent our grades in the dress-up days. It shows how the students all share a common place, whether that is the Senior Lot or the school as a whole. Having one place dedicated to the students can show the district that Orono’s school community is tight-knit and has school unity.
The painting of parking spots allows seniors to leave a mark at OHS, even if it is for one year. Through this medium, students can show not only their interests, but also make the parking lot look nicer. Examples can be seen at a state and a national level. Many schools across the country allow their parking lots to be decorated by the students.
Decorating the lot could happen on the morning of Senior Sunrise, which happens the morning of the first day of school, or students could come in the week before to have more time to paint their parking spot. Both dates would leave enough time for the painting of the lot, and it can be a fun way to kick off senior year.
In order to accomplish this, Orono would have to be willing to not only assign parking spots but also grant students the ability to decorate the lot. The change for this would need to come from a high level, most likely that of the school board, or with permission from the district.
Giving students the opportunity to make their parking spot their own adds character to the school and makes students feel more connected to the school and each other. So, let’s leave a mark and overhaul the senior lot.
