by Frank Platko

Although the prospect of graduating is exciting to many, including myself, there are many aspects of Sherwood that I will miss. Perhaps most of all, and it may sound strange, I will miss the parking lot. Every day when the dismissal bell rings, upperclassmen rush out to the parking lot, eager to get into their cars and beat the traffic.

The parking lot is the place where you say goodbye to your friends, knowing you’ll see them tomorrow. Rarely do you think about how one of these days, you’ll say goodbye for the last time. Often times, I would be in a hurry to get home. I’d sit in my car, waiting for my friends that I drive home everyday to come so we could leave. As all the other students left and my friends sang and danced outside of my car, I’d yell, “Hurry up! Let’s go!”. We’d end up spending the next 15-20 minutes in the parking lot. In the moment, it angered me. I just wanted to go home and relax. But the more I think about it now, I’m glad I spent all that time socializing in the parking lot. There is nothing better than blasting music, singing every word with your buds. Although other students will stare and give you dirty looks, it doesn’t matter.

That’s called truly making the most of your high school experience. That’s called creating memories that you will carry with you and cherish forever. I did not always have classes together with many of my friends. The only time I’d get the chance to talk to many people was in the parking lot after school. Often times, it was just a simple, “Hey!” or “How’s it going?” But it meant so much more. These were likely the last days we’d see each other for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever. All these years, we were in a rush to get home. But what we failed to realize is that we already were home. The parking lot bonded us together. It gave us a place to share laughs and make memories. It made us all Warriors, and we will take those memories with us forever.