Stuff (Commuting) Mason Students Like #10: Finding a parking spot
|
There's one out there. Somewhere. (Daniel McEnrue)
"SMSL"?
What's that?
“Stuff Mason Students Like” is pretty self-explanatory. Inspired by the popular blog Stuff White People Like, it draws attention to—go figure—the stuff that George Mason University students like.
In doing so, the column aims to foster a common culture among Mason’s student population, publish what people are thinking and say, and most importantly, to poke some fun at the Mason student body.
>> Read more SMSL
What's that?
“Stuff Mason Students Like” is pretty self-explanatory. Inspired by the popular blog Stuff White People Like, it draws attention to—go figure—the stuff that George Mason University students like.
In doing so, the column aims to foster a common culture among Mason’s student population, publish what people are thinking and say, and most importantly, to poke some fun at the Mason student body.
>> Read more SMSL
There are a few things that commuter students miss about Mason during their summer breaks. Seeing friends on a regular occasion, getting away from their home environment, hanging out with the organization(s) they are involved in, and last but not least, parking at Mason.
Experiencing parking at Mason immediately forms a special bond between commuter students that is unique to them. Parking at Mason is a special experience that only commuters can share amongst each other. The rest of us 5,400 on-campus students, sadly, are left out.
As an on-campus resident myself, I will never know the delight of having to wake up at least forty-five minutes earlier than usual to ensure that I find parking when I come to campus. My commuter friends tell me it can often take half an hour just to find a parking spot in the general lots after arriving on campus. Driving all around Patriot Circle and circling around Mason’s general parking lots just to find a parking spot… now that’s how I would love to spend half an hour of my day.
I get envious sometimes of how simply trying to find parking at Mason gives commuters several opportunities throughout the year to meet new people. Often, if a commuter spots a student who appears to be walking to his car from classes, the commuter will offer to give him a ride to his car so that the commuter may take his parking spot.
See how trying to find parking at Mason allows you to befriend strangers? And how it fosters acts of kindness? Who knew parking at Mason could be so beneficial to building one’s character?
Even trying to get out of Mason’s parking lots can bring joy to a commuter’s day. More often than not, commuters will try to leave the parking lot at the same time when late afternoon classes dismiss. This usually creates a backup in the parking lot, where commuters will have to wait before they can get out of the lot. Commuters are lucky to have more time to sit in their car and listen to music. It allows commuters more time to enjoy the new Justin Bieber song on the radio, and you know, totally not feel any stress.
With nearly four weeks into school, surely commuters are happy to be experiencing the pleasures of parking at Mason. The joys of Mason parking may be too much to handle for me. But thankfully, there are thousands of commuter students that I can live vicariously through.
Related:
>> Stuff Mason Students Like #9: Couches in the JC
>> Read more 'Stuff Mason Students Like'
Student Media Group: