For years, having a senior parking spot was something to look forward to here at San Dimas. A light at the end of the tunnel, some may say, a small but meaningful symbol of finally reaching the end of your high school tenure. But that tradition has, as of last year, been revoked due to complaints, and not only do seniors not have their own spots, but they can hardly find spots at all, at times. 

But now, that tradition is gone.

This year, not only do seniors no longer have designated parking spots, but some students even struggle to find parking at all. With all the parents using the lot to drop off and even park briefly, the student lot tends to get filled up and has traffic every day. Because of all the parking being taken, some people are even forced to park not in spots, or even move to the staff lot just to find a spot.

“I’ve moved to the staff lot just to park,” said senior Ryan Fox, who admits he’s had to park in the staff lot before due to no parking being in the student lot. “I would just move my car during lunch into the student lot when other people left.”

Parking has been a shared struggle in the San Dimas lot, as students compete for parking with all school events. Sharing a parking lot with the Bonita Center for the Arts and the San Dimas Swim and Racquet Club, both of which are next door. But the loss of senior spots allows underclassmen to take spots closer to the school.

Some seniors are upset about this, as the underclassmen should “wait their turn,” says senior Lou Farias. “Seniors should get priority to get a spot designated for them.”

Administrators have acknowledged the parking situation by making a flow chart of where people should drop off, pick up, and park. The school has also issued parking passes, which don’t serve any purpose other than a money grab for the school.

There are students who don’t get parking passes at all, and even those who purchased them say, “It’s a waste of money, they don’t even check them,” referring to the school. If the school doesn’t check the parking passes for those in the parking lot, then it would be unfair to let those who don’t purchase one still park after telling people it is required to be able to park within the lot.

As the student body continues to grow and the parking lot stays the same, the conversation about the parking at San Dimas High isn’t likely to fade anytime soon. Whether senior spots make a comeback or a new system takes their place, one thing is clear: the parking situation must be addressed and fixed here at San Dimas.