Imagine this: it’s Friday. You’re ready to leave school and get ready for your work shift. You race to your car in the winter chill, stuff your backpack in the trunk, hop into the driver seat, and as you’re leaving, you let someone turn out in front of you when all of a sudden, they decide to throw a bagel at your car. 

   This was one of my most confusing experiences in our school’s parking lot but nowhere near my worst ones. There have been times I have gotten flipped the birdie for not letting someone in front of me. I’ve almost been run into about three times, and someone right behind me honked because I wouldn’t drive into oncoming traffic. 

   Needless to say, I hate the parking lot. I’m in the back 40 and while it’s a lot faster to get out, which I need for my job, the incompetence of fellow drivers feels overwhelming and unsafe. I understand having bad days, and I know not everyone is a good driver, but it’s gotten to the point where I am concerned I will get in a wreck when I leave school. 

   It makes no sense to have a free-for-all after class everyday. We’re practically adults and should try our best to carry ourselves as such, therefore we should find a solution to this problem as soon as possible for the safety of everyone. 

   The most obvious fix is to contact our administration. Reaching out and sharing concerns about the parking lot, especially as a group, would make it much more convincing to leaders in our educational establishment. One thing our school could do is have the  resource officers outside to make sure no one is driving in an unsafe way. The school could also paint arrows in the parking lot so there are no questions about who goes where or whose turn it is. 

   If that gets us nowhere, the next step is to go to the school board. We could put cameras in the parking lot to encourage students to act more responsibly. 

   I know it’s not fun to be trapped in the back 40 and I’m aware it’s annoying when there’s someone slow in front of you, but making sure friends and classmates aren’t in danger is more important than being stuck in your car.