The ideas represented within this article are opinions in nature and are solely that of the author. They may not wholly reflect the stance of The Forest Scout newspaper as a publication.

One of the most gratifying privileges of being a senior at Lake Forest High School is parking in the senior parking lot. And I italicize the word senior because, with the exception of a handful of lucky raffle winners, that is strictly what it is designed for: seniors. Day in and day out, mindless parents–who are also proving to be senseless drivers–are clogging up the senior parking lot and preventing those who actually belong there from leaving school grounds in an efficient, orderly fashion. Naturally, the senior parking lot will fill up due to the fact that most students get out at the same time (3:20 p.m.), and adding additional cars to an already chaotic bottleneck of traffic has proven to be loathsome for the class of 2018. In fact, a considerable number of parents insist on invading the space that is strictly reserved to those who pay for it on a daily basis, as it simply is the most convenient way for them to pick up their child. Anyone like myself who parks in the senior parking lot is aware of this daily and constant struggle, having to navigate a dilemma caused by adults in an already tightly packed space laden with teenage drivers.

Everyday when I get out of school at 3:20, I see parents parked in open parking spots scrolling through their cell phones. They are oblivious to their surroundings, only reacting to the sound of their own car door opening and closing; from there, they aimlessly drive away, ignoring the increased traffic they are causing. We are all a victim of parents trying to squeeze their way through the line and cut us off, acting like we are obligated to let them by simply because they are older, and often drive a larger vehicle. Their children are no less of an offender as well, fancying parents’ incentive to break the rules by letting them intrude the sacred space allotted to seniors because they are ignorant to the fact that parents are not permitted to enter the senior parking lot.

If the senior parking lot were more than just that, there would be a sign indicating so. It is simply a pay-to-park space for students to park their cars during school hours. Moreover, seniors pay quite the pretty penny to solidify these spots. It is permissible to enter the senior lot after school hours to park and park only. It is not a space to idle your cars for 15 minutes and pick up your children. Often times I see parents not even in parking spaces; rather, they are simply parked on the side of the lot, thinking that they are of no nuisance to drivers that are attempting to leave. This is truly inconvenient and bothersome to students who play sports or work after school. Students who practice at West Campus right after school need to get out of the school as fast as possible to avoid Green Bay Rd. and Deerpath Rd. traffic.

This is more than just a series of complaints. Parents must be enlightened on this pressing issue as it is begetting more frustration with each passing week. Most offenders are unaware that this is a problem, and a growing one at that. There are no drastic changes that need to be made for the system of picking up/dropping off. Parents just need to understand that the senior parking lot is not a zone to pick up their underclassmen children. That is why we have a massive loop surrounding the front lawn, and multiple side streets that students can rendezvous with their parents at without disrupting traffic. This issue is occurring, but can be solved with simple common sense and adherence to school protocol. So to the parents who pick up their children in the senior parking lot, remember that convenience should not be the only factor in deciding where to pick your child up. As adults you should lead by example. Follow the rules.