How to Park Considerately at School

Just remember why to go slowly.

“A car in a busy parking lot with a school in the background,” prompt, Canva, Magic Media, 23 Feb 2024

“In any parking lot, especially busy ones, the key is to go slowly,” says Crystal, the office manager at the Street Smarts Driver Education’s location in Clive, Iowa. Crystal’s advice is reflected in statistics that GitNux found about speeding being “a contributing factor in 17% of parking lot accidents.” Driving slowly is very important to remember when in any parking lot, especially school parking lots that are filled with inexperienced drivers.

Your own comfort and safety always come first. If parking in certain spots is risky for you, take your time and find a location that provides you the comfort you need to park. “If you’re not comfortable with parking yet, choose to park in a spot that is quite a ways away from others,” Crystal recommends to newer drivers. Avoid inserting yourself and recently obtained licenses and permits into high-stress situations.

Second comes consideration for others, as the common saying goes, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It is nice to come back to your car after a long day at school to see it undamaged and very accessible to yourself, the driver. “To be considerate to others, park in the middle of the spot, leaving room for others to park next to you and open their doors comfortably,” Crystal reminds. Parking lots can be very stressful, so it is important to do what you can to make the environment as least stressful for others.

Of course, mistakes happen, but it is important to understand mistakes aren’t necessarily excused. “Sometimes, if you’re an inexperienced driver, you might not be centered in your parking spot and you’re given leniency for that,” explains Crystal. However, it is best practice to continue to repark until your car is parked adequately in your parking spot. Nevertheless, in school parking lots, it is best to extend understanding as all students are new drivers.

To remain safe and considerate, pay careful attention to your surroundings and be prepared for surprises. “The biggest mistake would be pulling in too fast and without your foot over the break,” Crystal reflects. Mistakes are susceptible to happen in environments with many inexperienced drivers so it is important to be very cautious. “Go slowly,” Crystal stresses, “and choose a spot that you’re comfortable parking in and one that reflects your parking level.”

The Power of Peer Tutoring

I sit down at the dining table with papers laid out in front of me. I can’t figure out practice problem six for my quiz in two days. I call out my older brother’s name. He sits down beside me to explain which formula I should use and why.

Though I don’t live with my brother, having family members help me through any schoolwork is a daily occurrence. My parents have taken the courses I’m currently enrolled in. They also have the time and patience to walk me through any roadblocks I encounter. Similarly, I am at hand to assist my sister. 

This is far from the case for everyone. 

Not everyone has support from home when completing schoolwork. 23.1% of high school students do not receive any help from their parents, found by a 2007 NCES survey, for several reasons. “For [the parents], school experiences, economic and time constraints, and linguistic and cultural practices have produced a body of knowledge about school settings that frequently goes unacknowledged,” voice Margaret Finders and Cynthia Lewis on ascd.org.

 There may not be a direct relationship, but a tutor can help a lot.

Peer tutoring is a well-established practice and has shown much success at many institutions. Help hours are common for many college classes, and universities might have more direct peer tutoring systems. ““I think part of the reason peer tutoring is so effective is that peer tutors are students and know what it is like to grope with their writing,” said Sheila M. Reindl, director of the Harvard University Writing Center.” Holding office or help hours and having a system of peer review in writing centers is common in colleges and the effective peer tutoring ideology should be brought into more high schools.

A Tennessee peer-tutoring program, Peer Power, is helping to pave the path. In 2005, Charlie McVean started a Peer Power group at his Memphis alma mater, East High School. Peer Power, which pays students to tutor and help students who are ‘left in the dark,’ proved to be very successful and increased the school’s algebra scores by 16 percentage points.

Peer Power in Action (photo from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.every.org%2Fpeerpower&psig=AOvVaw31E6yr7OhQ3CH_jU4myQGs&ust=1704901722946000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCLiFtJbU0IMDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD)

Some believe helping their peers isn’t a role for students, believing it is the teacher’s role or maybe ‘the blind leading the blind.’ “Mr. Kail and others said peer tutoring provided opportunities not always available in a traditional classroom setting. Students with similar backgrounds can sometimes explain concepts to one another more easily than an instructor. Additionally, they often ask their peer tutors questions they might not otherwise raise for fear of appearing ignorant,” states Jillian Mincer in the New York Times.

Given the benefits to both tutor and student, along with the positive impact on schools themselves, school districts should implement peer-tutoring programs and systems.

AI-generated image visualizing the empowering benefits of peer tutoring

PRO Column 1st Draft

I sit down at the dining table with papers laid out in front of me. I can’t figure out practice problem six for my quiz in two days. I call out my older brother’s name. He comes out of his room and sits down at the table with me to explain which formula I should use and why.

Though I don’t live with my brother, having family members help me through any schoolwork is a daily occurrence. My parents have taken the courses I’m currently enrolled in. They also have the time and patience to walk me through any roadblocks I encounter. Similarly, I am at hand to assist my sister. 

This is far from the case for everyone. 

Not everyone has support when completing schoolwork. 23.1% of high school students do not receive any help from their parents, found by a 2007 NCES survey, for several reasons.“For [the parents], school experiences, economic and time constraints, and linguistic and cultural practices have produced a body of knowledge about school settings that frequently goes unacknowledged.”  There may not be a direct relationship, but a tutor can help a lot.

Peer tutoring is a well-established practice and has shown much success at many institutions. Help hours are common for many college classes, and universities might have more direct peer tutoring systems. “”I think part of the reason peer tutoring is so effective is that peer tutors are students and know what it is like to grope with their writing,” said Sheila M. Reindl, director of the Harvard University Writing Center.” Holding office or help hours and having a system of peer review in writing centers is common in colleges and peer tutoring ideology should be brought into more high schools.

A Tennessee peer-tutoring program, Peer Power, started by student —— —–, is helping pave the path. Peer Power, which pays students to tutor and help students who are ‘left in the dark,’ has been very successful and increased the school’s algebra scores.

Some believe helping their peers isn’t a role for students, believing it is the teacher’s role or maybe ‘the blind leading the blind.’ “Mr. Kail and others said peer tutoring provided opportunities not always available in a traditional classroom setting. Students with similar backgrounds can sometimes explain concepts to one another more easily than an instructor. Additionally, they often ask their peer tutors questions they might not otherwise raise for fear of appearing ignorant.”

Given the benefits to both tutor and student, along with the positive impact on schools themselves, school districts should implement peer-tutoring programs and systems.

What High School is Like in 2023

High school in 2023 is about how much you can do. For many students, there is a social pressure to do as much as you can since you’re young. This pressure is exacerbated by the incredible opportunities offered to learners. Numerous students have, and increasingly so, infinite resources and opportunities immediately available for their leisurely use. Furthermore, all opportunities and topics can be pursued in various degrees. You may be a doctor, and with the efficiency of our community, you may be one of the hundreds of types of doctors.

I am interested in many things. However, I don’t have infinite time to pursue my numerous interests. I would love to be on the debate team, robotics team, and soccer team. Yet, to do all would mean sleepless nights and would be at the cost of time with my friends and family.

The fact that I am able to do anything is juxtaposed with the fact I can not do everything.

The talented multi-sport athletes.
https://ameshighathletics.org/activities/athletics/girls-soccer/
Ames’ newer, bigger high school.
https://ahs.amescsd.org/

I want to keep as many doors as I can open. But, by opening one door further and spending more time and more effort opening the door, I am, consequentially, allowing another opportunity to disappear. Sacrifice is omnipresent.

There are many common phrases, “You have so many opportunities” or “You can be anything.” This implicit pressure to do as much as you can and make use of the incredible opportunities opening up in many rapidly expanding industries makes high school intense.

The saying ‘high school in 2023’ implies a comparison, one that I am unable to provide as I know only high school in this age. However, I know high school in 2023 has an expectation of going to college or university. While being restricted by this expectation, high school in 2023 has still fewer limitations for more and more students.