In Hastings High School, there are two types of people: Those that park in the West Lot, and those that park in the East Lot. The long-debated question stands to be: Which is better?
As an experienced parker in both lots I can definitively say that the West Lot is far superior in parking experience.
One reason to convert to the West Lot is that it makes parking much easier for beginning drivers. Most beginning drivers park in the East Lot, as it is a bigger, more popular parking lot. I too fell victim to the idea that parking there was a better overall experience.
However, upon parking in that lot, I was instantly drawn to the far-away spaces where no one could possibly hit my bumper, or give me a ‘door ding’.
As time went on and snow began to fall, I could see that parking became much worse as snow began to cover up the lot of parking lines.
Because the East Lot is so crammed, without the aid of parking lines, chaos ensues. I can vividly recall instances of cars looking more akin to a line of poorly placed matchbox vehicles placed by a four-year-old.
After this traumatic experience, I decided to try out the West lot, where I was met with easy parking, civilized etiquette, and spacious room to open my doors without fear of scratching or damaging another student’s vehicle.
In a recent poll I sent out, I asked students to respond and talk about their reasons for parking in their preferred lot. Many students agreed with my reasoning, while others brought up reasons I wouldn’t have thought of. Though the spread between parking in the west lot versus the east lot was nearly equal, many students voiced ther opinions on their lot of preference. “I park in the west lot because it is closer to the front doors of the school and that’s where I enter/exit the building for all of my classes,” senior Hannah Gamill said.
“There is a lot less traffic and the parking places are bigger. It also seems like the people who park in the back know how to park better than those in the other lot. My friends and I all park in the west so that could also be another reason,” an anonymous student said.
I urge all students to at least try out the parking in the West lot, and see if it is a fit for them.
