MERIDIAN, Idaho — A painted parking spot at Owyhee High School is serving as more than a senior tradition for one student – it’s becoming a conversation starter about mental health and suicide prevention.
Each year, seniors at the Meridian school are given the opportunity to paint their parking spots before the school year begins. For senior Aftyn Fastabend, the project became a personal tribute to a close friend she lost to suicide last year.
“Seniors have been competing for parking between all the grades for the past three years, so this gives them priority to their space,” Fastabend said. “A lot of seniors have releases so they don’t have as many class periods as others, so this gives them a permanent spot even after everyone has parked.”…