Parking on any college campus undoubtedly comes with an array of obstacles. Whether there are too few spots, more faculty parking than necessary, or traffic jams as the whole universe student body attempts to find an open space, any USC student that can find a parking spot deserves a trophy; it’s like finding gold! With all of the added meters and cramped garages, each commute to class faces its own adversity. The plea from the student body for improved parking conditions has only been met with high-priced passes that basically require a loan to afford. Since living on-campus is basically unheard of after freshman year, the following semesters become filled with a lot of prayer and buckets of wasted quarters.
So, if you fall into the category of the tortured scholar just trying to get to class, these inevitable stages of parking your car at USC are for you.
1. The Commute
It’s Monday morning and you’ve left your apartment an extra five minutes early to give you enough time to park. Prepared and anxious, you begin the long trek to class hoping the stars will align and allow you to find a spot ASAP.
2. The Search
Your car search begins at the lot located outside of Close Hipp. You keep your eyes peeled for any taillights shining red signifying someone is about to leave. No success yet – but you continue your journey onward.
3. The Anxiety
The blood in your heart is pumping at a faster rate now as you begin your third go-round with no spots in sight. You begin to question if you brought your quarters, or if there is an exam that you are now going to be late for (or whether you have enough skips left…).
4. The Anger
The words your momma told you never to say now run through your mind as you mark ten minutes with no parking spot in sight. You become angry at the school for not providing enough parking, your parents for not buying you a pass and your professor for having class in the first place. #rude
5. The Surrender
“Well, I am not attending class today” becomes the ultimate resolution to the problem, as all spots remain occupied. You have no other choice but to accept the absence and blame USC. How can you be the one to blame here?!
6. The Retreat
It’s official: all hope is lost as you begin the odyssey back to your off-campus housing, far, far away. With misty eyes, you commend yourself for trying.
7. The Victory
Like a light shining from heaven above, you see a car creep out of a spot. You make a quick U-turn and pull in as tiny horns of triumph sound in your heart. Today you are the victor.
Remember: While you might have won today, tomorrow is another story…