Let’s be real, finding parking at FSU might be one of the most stressful parts of being a student. You could leave your apartment early, have your coffee ready, and still end up circling a parking garage, wondering if you’ll make it to class on time.
Somehow, everyone has that one parking garage they’re convinced is better than the others.
Whether you’re loyal to Woodward, willing to take your chances at Traditions, or would rather avoid garages altogether, your parking preferences might say more about you than you think. As someone who commutes to FSU, I’ve learned that finding parking is practically a daily gamble. Some mornings, everything works perfectly. Other mornings, you’re questioning if it’s even worth going to class anymore.
The funniest part is that no matter how many times your favorite garage has let you down, you probably keep going back. Maybe it’s convenient, maybe you’re stubborn, or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that your parking luck is going to turn around. At this point, your parking habits might be your biggest red flag!
Woodward Garage: The Main Character
Your red flag: You romanticize absolutely everything.
If Woodward is your favorite garage, you probably love being in the middle of everything. You love convenience, having your favorite coffee in hand, and pretending your walk to class is part of a movie montage. You’re the friend who makes a whole event out of a simple coffee run and somehow has a playlist for every possible situation.
Honestly, I respect it. College is stressful enough, so you might as well make things feel a little special.
Traditions Garage: The Chronically Late One
Your red flag: You’re always late, even when you try not to be.
If Traditions is your go-to parking garage, I already know you’re the friend who tells everyone you’re five minutes away when you haven’t even left your apartment. You could leave for class 30 minutes early and still somehow end up circling the garage for another 30 minutes looking for a spot. At this point, being late isn’t even an accident; it’s part of your personality.
Somehow, you’ll still blame the traffic.
Call Street Garage: The Eternal Optimist
Your red flag: You’re too optimistic for your own good.
Whether it’s 11 a.m. on a Tuesday, or there are 100 spots blocked off for an event, you somehow always end up back at Call Street. If this is your favorite garage, you’re probably the type of person who always believes things will work out, even when the odds aren’t exactly in your favor. You pull into the garage convinced that today will be the day you find the perfect parking spot, regardless of how many times that has failed before.
You’re also the friend who insists there’s plenty of time to get ready, even when everybody else is already waiting in the car. Honestly, though, if not you, who will keep the group positive?
Spirit Way & St. Augustine Garages: The Avoidant Ones
Your red flag: You avoid confrontation like it’s your full-time job.
If Spirit Way or St. Augustine is your go-to garage, you’ve probably accepted that avoiding parking chaos is worth extra walking. Honestly, I don’t blame you. Between people flying around corners and the constant fear of someone taking your bumper off, driving through an FSU parking garage can feel like an extreme sport.
This probably carries into your personal life, too. You’re the friend who would rather say “No worries!” than have an uncomfortable conversation. You’d rather take the long way around than deal with unnecessary drama, both on campus and in your personal life.
Pensacola Garage: The SPontaneous One
Your red flag: You’re the definition of an impulse decision.
If Pensacola is your favorite garage, you’re probably the friend who’s always down for a last-minute adventure. You agree to spontaneous plans without checking your schedule, buy something because it’s on sale, and somehow always manage to convince yourself that everything will work out.
Your parking strategy probably isn’t much different. You pull into the garage hoping for the best, without giving too much thought to what happens if you can’t find a spot. But at least life is never boring when you’re around.
Civic Center: The Comfort-Zone Lover
Your red flag: You love your routine a little too much.
If your go-to parking spot is the Civic Center, you’re probably someone who likes having a routine and sticking to it.
With such a huge parking lot, why would you spend your morning stressing over a parking garage when you could just park and get on with your day? You’re the friend who reads the menu before arriving at a restaurant and knows what to order, takes the same route everywhere, and has a favorite spot for just about everything.
The second the Civic Center closes for an event, though, your entire routine falls apart. Suddenly everyone who normally parks there is trying to squeeze into the campus garages, and finding a spot feels like competing in The Hunger Games.
Sometimes, a little change is good. Just maybe not when you’re trying to get to class on time.
No Garage Is Perfect
Whether you’re always running late, romanticizing your daily routine, or someone who loves staying in their comfort zone, there’s probably a parking garage at FSU that matches your personality. Of course, your parking preferences don’t actually determine your red flags, but it’s fun to imagine what they might say about you.
Regardless of where you park, I think everyone can agree on one thing: Finding a spot shouldn’t be the hardest part of being in college. Especially when the FSU parking app tells you there are plenty of spots left, only for you to pull into a garage and find absolutely nothing.
If the Civic Center is closed on top of that? Good luck to all of us.
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