Whenever someone asks me about my daily commute to TCU, they inevitably ask me first about the traffic, and I always tell them it’s not bad. But then comes the second question, “How about the parking?” Now, they’ve nailed the problem. If commuters do not have their designated parking spot by 9:30 each and every morning, they are completely on their own for the rest of the day.

Three days a week I arrive on campus at 7:30 a.m. for my jogging class, and of course at this time, all of the parking lots are for the most part vacant. Two hours later, I come back to grab a book for the following class, and while I am rummaging through my trunk, I hear the hum of an idle engine. This is the sound of a hopeful commuter living on the prayer that maybe, just maybe, I am loading up and pulling out for the day. This action would not draw my attention so much except three more cars will undoubtedly follow suit in a hopeful parade within those five minutes. Admittedly, I used to be one of those frantic students swarming around full campus parking lots hoping that maybe someone had left their spot for the day just seconds before my arrival. However, it did not take me long before I learned the most valuable truth about my fellow TCU commuters – they never leave until after 4 p.m. when no one needs a spot.

Most would assume these commuters hold their spots for an entire day due to the longevity of their class schedule. However, I tend to believe they have a desperate desire to hold on to their highly coveted spots in order to be absolutely sure they have gotten all the use out of it as is possible. It is sort of an “enjoy it while it lasts” philosophy, because they might not have such good fortune tomorrow. Of course, if all else fails, there’s always room in the KinderFrogs parking lot.

Ruthie Lee is a freshman psychology major from Fort Worth.