On Monday, Aug. 4, Don Pick-up Day, AV seniors took to the school parking lot to chalk their parking spots. The tradition is a casual yet spirited way for seniors to commemorate the start of their senior year.
“I think it’s really fun to do it with your friends and make memories. It’s really spirited to get your …school spirit up for the first week and just enjoy it,” said Sarah Price (‘26).
By chalking their parking spots, seniors have the freedom to customize their space to each of their likings. To many, what they put on their spots is a reflection of their last year of high school.
“I did SpongeBob because it was a very big part of my childhood. Senior year, people forget their childhood – that you are just a kid. They focus too much on the fact that the future is coming, and for me to make it childish was to remember that I’m just a kid. I don’t have to have everything figured out, and it’s senior year, and I can relax, chill, and I can just be me and be a kid – and there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Avery Giles (‘26).
On Don Pick-up Day, seniors drew a variety of images, from SpongeBob to jellyfish to galaxies. However, the chalk has a limited time on the concrete.
“[I] saw it as an opportunity to have fun with my friends, to do whatever on the spot. I know [when] that first rainy day comes, it’s all getting washed away, but that’s okay,” said Nathan Yu (‘26).
Amador Traditions
The chalk tradition is just making its return this year in an effort to reintroduce Amador traditions to the school.
“Right now, leadership is just trying to encourage more school spirit at Amador, because it seems like we’ve kind of been in a slump for the past couple of years. We’re trying to bring back fun traditions like chalking spots and the Aloha dance to kind of get that school spirit back up,” said AV Don Squad leader Emmy Hoopes (‘26).
Additionally, school traditions are a lively way to celebrate memories and to foster anticipation throughout the school year. They encourage students to work hard and play hard.
“It’s important to have school traditions not only to culminate school spirit, but also to get the incoming freshmen and classes excited to be a senior and excited to continue their legacy at Amador. Having traditions every single year makes it more fun to be a part of the student body, and it makes you feel like you’re working towards an end goal,” said Hoopes.
Moreover, for seniors, customizing their spots is not just a tradition, but a metaphor for something bigger.
“Whatever you put on this parking spot is whatever you want it to be, kind of [like] senior year. Whatever you want it to be is what you choose,” said Giles.
