Park and Ponder brings inspiration to senior parking lot

By Kristie Hoang

Park and Ponder, an innovation project from English teacher David Theriault’s class, has recently finished decorating the senior parking lot with motivating words to brighten any person’s day.

Park and Ponder aims to paint the senior parking lot with inspirational messages, similar to those at the parking lot of The Camp in Costa Mesa. The project is focused on bringing art and creativity to the next level and emphasize the uniqueness of FVHS culture.

The group spray paints the parking lot using stencils during Spring Break. Photo provided by @ParkAndPonder via Twitter
The Park and Ponder group spray paints the parking lot using stencils.
Photo via @ParkAndPonder on Twitter

“I’ve always really liked the Camp’s parking lot but I never really thought of bringing it to [our school] until one of Mr. Theriault’s sophomores, Angie Ly, posted on the Idea Farming Google community that it would be super cool if we did the same thing with their parking lot,” said the group’s leader Catt Phan (’14).

The project began a couple months into the school year, with the introduction of the Innovation Projects by Theriault. The group includes Michelle Le, Michelle Nguyen, Angie Ly, Chris Nguyen, Maya Greenfield-Thong, Daniel Rosica, and Stella Lee.

With all the preparation, fundraising, and brainstorming ideas, the group was able to complete the project during Spring Break.  The first three rows of the senior parking lot are now painted.

For the group, the most difficult task was getting approval from the school district, principal, and janitor to do the project.

“We had to present ourselves with clear cut information on what we were planning to do with the parking lot when we had no idea at the time ourselves what they were. It was definitely tough,” said Ly (‘16).

Park and Ponder hopes to bring cheer and appreciation to a person’s surroundings.

“Be inspired by your surroundings,” said Ly (’16). “Open your eyes and you’ll find appreciation.”