Seniors in the Class of 2026 work on painting their parking spots. Photo by Emmie Huynh '27.
Many seniors from the class of 2026 painted their assigned parking spots with personalized designs and artwork for the first time, marking the start of a new MFS senior tradition.
During the week of August 18, seniors were allowed to come to school and paint their parking spots at a designated parking lot only for senior drivers after approval of their design. For many seniors, their designs required multiple days to finish.
The idea to paint the parking spots came from the Class of 2026 and was followed by support from US Dean of Students Will Miller.
Class of 2026 President Bodhi Vance-Harris said, “At one of our class meetings, the idea was presented, and a lot of people were in favor of the idea. We told [our class] that we would reach out to Miller and see what we could do before the start of the school [year]. We heard everyone would love the idea and it would be fun.”
Vance-Harris described the process of how seniors registered to paint their parking spaces and get them approved by administration.
“[Students] had a form to fill out before coming to paint. It was open from August 1 to August 14 for seniors. [The form] was really for car registration, but you also had the option to paint your spot and upload your design for your spot. That’s how we got [the designs] approved [by Miller],” he said.
The logistics and guidelines of painting the parking spots were student-led with the help of Miller, who oversaw the project.
Vance-Harris said, “We had to figure out how we were going to distribute our spots and get people to actually come out and paint them. Miller gave us the dates, and we did everything else.”
“This [idea] has been something that [US Director Noah] Rachlin and I actually have been discussing for a couple of years, but we just hadn’t had an opportunity for it to come to fruition,” explained Miller. “It was just great timing when [the seniors] did come to me and say, ‘Hey, we have this idea.’ I was able to respond very quickly and say, ‘You know what, we’ve actually been having some conversations about this.’”
Each parking spot represents the student driver in a unique way as a piece of the Class of 2026. Some students chose to paint flags from their family heritage, favorite music albums, sports teams they supported, or with quotes that felt important to them.
Sarah Capparelli ’26 spoke on the tradition’s personalized aspect.
“It is something that brought us together before the school year even started. I think it allowed everyone to kind of just bring their creativity and their fun ideas and show who we are as individuals and also as seniors,” said Capparelli. Olivia Arzu ’27 reflected on the artwork done by the seniors.
“I think it’s really beautiful. All of their identities are flourishing through the parking spots. I really like the self-expression of these art pieces,” she said.
Amiya Sant ’26 commented on the ways this new tradition has brought community to her grade.
“It’s a little team bonding [experience] before the school year sets in. We’re all out here, sweating our butts off, painting. It’s super cute,” said Sant.
“People are working together, especially with those who are already finished. … It’s a great, fun experience,” said Ida Ramos ’26.
Similarly, Kayla Haines ’26 said, “I feel like everyone has been doing their own thing, but if anyone needs help, everyone helps each other and lends each other paint.”
Seniors paid for their own painting supplies, a costly expense involved with participating in the new tradition.
Ramos said, “[You could] need at least a budget of $120 to $200. The cheapest paint you can get is like $20 or $25.”
“If we could do this again and our class saved up money for us to all share paint, that would have been way better,” mentioned Capparelli, who spent $80 to $90 on her parking spot.
Although painting parking spots is a senior privilege, many underclassmen came to help seniors bring their designs to life, such as sophomore Fiona Yan ’28, who was asked to help paint senior Rut Patil’s ’26 parking spot.
“I helped Rut just because she needed somebody who has more experience with art. My experience painting it was super fun, as I got the chance to talk to Rut and other seniors,” said Yan.
Looking forward to her senior year, Arzu said, “I think it will be a big bonding experience for our grade, trying to figure out how to help each other paint. I’m really excited for my parking spot and for me and my friends to do it together.”
