I live off campus, so I have to drive to class. I’m sure I’m not the only student here at The University of Akron who has noticed that parking is absolutely terrible, and other students at other colleges can probably also relate. It’s like when deciding on parking someone said “let’s only give the whole university 300 parking spots. Yeah that’s all we will need.” Now I don’t know the exact number of parking spots on campus, but I do know that there are exactly zero open spots whenever I am trying to find one. Here are a few things I think about while driving around trying to find a spot.
1. "I should probably leave early so I can find a parking spot."
It’s annoying that I usually have to leave ten or fifteen minutes earlier than I normally would because I know I’ll have to use that time to drive around looking for a parking spot.
2. "Maybe there will be a spot open in the lot that’s closest to the building I’m going to!"
I am always too optimistic when I first try to find a place to park. But my hopes and dreams are always shattered when I pull into the lot and quickly see there are no open spaces.
3. "Okay, but there’s gotta be a spot open in this parking deck."
Yet again, I am wrong. Cool.
4. "Oh here’s a spot! Wait, no, it’s a spot with a freaking parking meter."
I’ve now spent a good amount of time driving around and I’m starting to really get annoyed. Just when I think my parking problems are solved, I see that there’s a parking meter. I don’t have any quarters, and I don’t feel like getting (another) parking ticket. Don’t I pay you enough money already Akron? Why do you feel a need to have parking meters in student parking lots?! You’re just setting everyone up for failure.
5. "I’m running out of options, time, and patience."
I now have five minutes to get to class. Do I risk a ticket and park in the meter spot, or do I park in the parking deck that’s so far away that I will definitely be late?
6. "Forget it. I’ll just go home."
Okay, not really. But I wish I could just go home and forget all of this parking nonsense.
7. "Is that person leaving? I think that person is leaving!"
*Stalks person walking back to their car and waits for them to drive away*
8. "Finally, a parking spot!"
I honestly feel like throwing a party to celebrate and I also wish I could apologize to the person I creeped out by driving slowly behind them.
I can’t even begin to count how many times I have been late or almost late to class because of trying to find parking. Every day I think: is my education worth this stress? Maybe I should just drop out and stay home. And then I realize I am being overdramatic and just leave a bit early so I can start the nonsense all over again.
