As driving tests are passed and Bears secure their own cars, they begin to make their cars their own. Examples of personalization at its finest, here are some wacky items that live in students’ cars.
Junior Avery Williams stores most of her closet in her car. As a busy student and lacrosse player, Williams needs an outfit for every occasion. Whether it’s a last-minute team practice, a school event, or hanging out with friends, she always has something to wear. “I always have a shirt, a hoodie, shoes, and like three sets of athletic shirts,” she said. When managing a busy schedule, she easily forgets pieces that she may need. “I’m a really forgetful person, so I kind of live out of my car,” Williams said.
Senior Aaron Chung packs the back of his car with Costco snacks. His trunk is filled to the brim with an arrangement of chips, Coca-Cola, and Sprite. Chung brought the snacks to school as a favor for his English teacher Lisa Otsuka. “Mrs. Otsuka has about two students bring snacks to class on block day, and this week, I’m one of the students bringing snacks,” Chung said.
Senior Shayne Porter’s car is a comfy commodity. Her trunk, filled with huge blankets, is perfect for any spontaneous event. Porter began storing blankets in her trunk when she and her friends went up to Valpo Hill to watch the sunset. “[We had] our two cars face each other with blankets inside and make sort of a tent. And we just stargazed at the night sky,” Porter said. The blankets have been in her car ever since, and are used often. “I’m just prepared for any adventure that’s to come,” she added.
Junior Evan Threatt keeps a Spikeball net in his trunk. The fast-paced and portable game, easy for anybody, is a favorite of his. “I love Spikeball, so I always keep [the net] on me,” he said. An easy game to carry on the go, Spikeball is ideal for a little pick-me-up. “I use it every weekend,” Threatt said. Spikeball is more than a game for Threatt—it’s a way to stay active and spend time with his friends.
Junior Elena Kunze Briseño fills the middle console of her car to the very top with lollipops. Restocked often, Kunze Briseño keeps the lollipops in her car for all of her friends. “Every time someone gets in my car, they can have a little sweet treat,” Kunze Briseño said. The console is filled with every flavor: chocolate, cherry, orange, grape, and raspberry. “They’re done [with the lollipop] by the time they’re at their house,” Kunze Briseño said.
Junior Charlotte Cutcliffe displays vibrant rubber ducks on the dashboard of her car as decoration. A famous tradition of “ducking” has been popular among Jeep owners for many years. “I already had ducks in my car from when my sister drove,” Cutcliffe said. When you see other Jeeps, the tradition is to trade a duck or give one from your own car. “Last year somebody came around the [parking lot] and put ducks on all the Jeeps, they had these little hats on them,” Cutcliffe said. Her dashboard is arrayed with all different colors and types of ducks that represent her style. “My favorite is the pink little unicorn duck,” she said.
Senior Asher Supple stores his golf clubs in his car. An array of wedges, irons, putters, and woods tucked in a blue golf bag fills half his trunk. An avid golfer, Supple visits the Stanford range often. “I go to the range every Wednesday,” Supple said. His golf clubs are ready to go in his trunk, making it easy for him to head to the golf course after school, spending time on his swing.
