9 posts tagged “law school”
Bar studying is killing me. KILLING ME. I cannot express the pain of this experience. Thinking about going to law school? Just don't. It's not worth the two months of hell you face after graduation.
I had such plans for this summer! Real plans! Study most of the day, have some nice leisurely lunches out with friends, see a movie or two every week. So far? Only stress filled lunches and one movie (which was Ocean's 13 and was super awesome, but that's not the point).
Nothing compares to the agony of sitting in a freezing cold classroom watching a video of a lecture on some boring legal issue for 3-4 hours (or more) every day and then coming home and studying til I want to cry. I cannot express how much I dread the 8 hour classes we have Wednesday through Friday. I cannot explain how horrifying I find S&M jokes mixed into Contracts lectures (you think I'm kidding?).
I did get to go to Florida for 36 hours this weekend for a party for my grandmother and her husband. It was nice to see the family, but the weekend was kind of crazy. And now I'm super crazy behind in the studying.
The lesson here? Don't go to law school. The world doesn't need more lawyers. Don't go to grad school. Or better yet, go to one of those grad schools where they pay you to go and you can get a job right after you graduate and don't have to pass any crazy tests. The end.
PMBR continues to not be exciting. At least my skills are improving. I got 20 something questions right today. Out of 50. Contracts. Big fun. But I feel like I at least learned something today, and that's good. We also got a copy of the suggested summer schedule for BarBri. It's absolutely insane. I don't know that I have the willpower to do 4 hours in class and then another 8 hours at home trying to study. My goal was to do about 4 in the afternoon - but then I won't get everything done that they suggest.
I guess the best plan is to just wait and see and figure out what works best for me.
Grades are slowly rolling in. So far, no surprises. I expect it'll be weeks before the scary ones roll in. But I know I passed and that's all that matters.
Running update:
1.84 miles today in 20 minutes, for a pace of about 11:07
4.5 miles this week, 41.7 miles this month.
I'm still behind in my goal to run 1000km this year. I'm about 11 miles behind right now, which isn't a big deal. To keep pace, I need to run about 12 miles a week, and I regularly do 15, so I'm sure I'll catch up in a few weeks.
In all my free time, I've been pondering everything I have to do before I move to D.C. All my security clearance paperwork is in, and the PMF website officially lists me as a hire, so it looks like I'm good to go. I have no concerns about my security stuff, having gone through various other types of clearances for the bar exam and previous jobs, so I figure that will come through pretty easily.
I put myself on a waiting list for an apartment. That's a little scary. I hope something turns up! I won't find out anything until probably July or so, and I have no clue where I am on the waiting lis (I wonder if I can call and find out), but it would really be nice to have everything settled.
Jayne wanted to see what 40 pounds of books looks like.
It looks like FEAR.
I wrote this whole big entry last weekend. And then I'm not sure what happened to it. Either way, it never got posted, so here we are.
I'm technically on Spring Break this week, though it definitely doesn't hold the same thrill that it did in undergrad... not that I ever did anything really wild and crazy on Spring Break in undergrad either. No, this week's plans are to get the house cleaned up a bit, actually go to church (Spring Break = no bar review classes on either weekend), catch up on all the homework I didn't do, finish a set of jury instructions that are due next week (perhaps I should have started those earlier), finish grading papers, maybe go to the mall and buy pants, go to the Lincoln Museum with Mom, and work a few days.
Yep, that's my week. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? I actually already did one of my planned things, which was to go to the running store and buy new shoes. I like to rotate in a new pair of shoes around mile 150. I'm only on my third pair of actual running shoes bought at an actual running store, and the first pair had to be retired at under 200 miles. I was pretty hard on those though. Lots of shuffle-step running, and well, I was heavier. Amazing how that running makes you lose weight, isn't it? So I bought some new running shoes, and a running skirt.
I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I find myself wanting to run a marathon. Once I find out what I'll be doing after graduation, I'm going to seriously think about running the Disney Marathon in January. I mentioned this to my Dad, who ran my first race with me, and his response was "the half, right." No Dad, the full. Needless to say, he's not running that one with me. But it's all going to depend on what happens with this whole "job" thing.
I ran 5 miles yesterday. On the treadmill. Yuck. I could have done it outside, but I just had my bathtub replaced and couldn't use it (or the shower) until last night. Therefore, I was going to have to go to the gym and shower anyway, and the idea of running and then getting in my car to go somewhere to shower just seemed ridiculous. Plus I had this slight fear the showers would be closed for maintenance. By going to the gym and then running, I could go up to the locker room and make sure everything was in working order rather than have to be gross the rest of the day.
So today is an off day from the running, and then tomorrow is 40 minutes. I'm following a training schedule that puts a long run on Saturday, and then a slightly long run on Wednesday (up to 45 minutes, hills and fartleks). But with my class and work schedule, it's hard to get that run in on Wednesdays (since I have class and work for 13 hours straight), so I moved it to Monday and just do a standard 30 minute jog on Wednesday. I worried that I wasn't putting it far enough from the week's long run, but they're on Saturday and Monday, and Sunday is a total rest day, no other cardio whatsoever. So far, no troubles.
In a couple of weeks, I'm supposed to add another day of running, just a 20 minute run. But the training plan says you can drop that one if necessary. I'm going to see how it goes. It's a scheduling thing more than anything else, plus I like to get in some alternate cardio (TurboJam, if you must know) because I like to try to tone my upper body as well.
So that's what's going on. Not really all that exciting.
Well, one big thing in my list of "things to do" can be checked off. The symposium I've been planning since last spring was held on Friday, and it went off so well. I met so many wonderful people, and people who were passionate about domestic violence. It was just amazing. If any of you live in an area where there is a Family Justice Center (just do a Google search - there aren't a lot of them), go volunteer. Help fundraise. Spread the word that this resource is out there for victims of domestic violence. I met directors of four FJCs and I want to be them when I grow up. They were just so passionate about their jobs and their causes. It's great to get to experience that.
So now the next big thing on my list is the bar exam. I guess finals should be in there, but I don't have that many, and compared to the bar, I'm not concerned. I'm actually in the middle of a bar course right now. Yep, they've started already. Can't say I'm enjoying it.
I think now that I have my life back somewhat, I need to get back to taking running a bit more seriously. Oh sure, I'm still getting out there, and I'm still following a running plan, but I think that I need to do more. Get back to eating well so that runs go easier. Get back to keeping a good running log - I've got one that has time, distance, shoes, calories burned, and location, but I need to keep taking notes so that I can figure out why a certain run goes well and why a certain run does not go well.
Initially, I had planned to run the St. Louis St. Patrick's Day 5 Mile Run. I don't think that's going to happen now. I know I could do it, and could finish, but I'm at the point where I don't have anyone to run it with, and I'm not really in shape to go run it anyway. My longest runs still aren't 5 miles, since I'm trying to keep a slow build in my times and distances. No need to thrust myself back into injury territory.
I'm going to re-do this past week's running schedule this week. 35 minutes on Monday, 30 on Wednesday and Friday, and 55 on Saturday. Since I haven't run since Thursday due to the symposium, I might do a bit more than 35 on Monday, just depending on how I feel. I'm hoping the weather stays nice so I can run outside. I can do 30 minutes on a treadmill, but any more just gets monotonous. I think it'd be different if I had my own treadmill and could watch whatever I wanted on tv. But I definitely don't have the money or space for a treadmill right now. So I'm stuck with the gym or the out of doors. I much prefer outside. I think most runners would agree.
Barrister's Ball - Fun, but mainly because dressing up and seeing all your friends dressed up, as opposed to the strange school attire of business suits or sweat suits. The band? Not so awesome. Well, they'd be an ok wedding band, where you have to deal with people ranging in age from 2 to a billion, and therefore, have to be a bit more selective with your music choices. Barrister's Ball? Not the case. But still a fun night.
Running - Still running. Slacking a bit on the schedule. Did 45 minutes on the treadmill yesterday morning. 45 minutes outside is glorious. 45 minutes on a treadmill is insanely painful. Even with the iPod and closed captioning tv. 3 minutes from the end of my run, the cleaning guy manages to unplug my treadmill with the vacuum, and in a moment of grace, I managed to not land on my face, but rather, sort of stumbled off the back. And was angry, not at my almost falling, but at the not knowing how far I had run in those 42 minutes.
Classes - Meh. Actually, I think I like my classes this semester. All subjects I enjoy, none of these business related classes. While I realize it is important to learn how checks process and the laws behind it, I have to admit I don't so much care. Give me murderers and rapists anyday. So thumbs up to classes. I just need to pay more attention to them.
Work - Thumbs up for work. It's been pretty busy, but I like the job.
Future Work - Still no job arranged for after graduation. Still trying to not stress about that. I'm leaving in a few hours to go to Chicago to take an assessment test for the Presidential Management Fellowship program. It's a longshot, I think, just because the program is competitve, and I'm trying to not get my hopes up, but I have to admit, I really want it. So send good vibes my way tomorrow from 9am to 1pm Central Time.
Life - Life in general is pretty good. Busy, but I'm content, even with all that's been going on. (Wow, I'm vague, aren't I.)
I guess Christmas is pretty much coming to an end. I have to take down my Christmas tree this weekend. I'll probably start on the ornaments tomorrow. I'd love to wait, but my parents have offered to come over and help me get the tree down on the 1st after they drop my sister at the airport (she's going to the Sugar Bowl, lucky girl). As the tree is too heavy for me to physically move on my own, I do need my Dad's help. Mom will supervise. She's good at that.
It feels like the Christmas season just comes and goes. And yet, Christmas items appear in the stores as early as Halloween, sometimes even earlier. I blame law school. In grade school and high school and even college to a degree, the months before Christmas consisted of learning Christmas music for choral and band concerts, coloring pictures, hanging decorations, taking up collections for those less fortunate, etc. And then, when I entered the workforce for that very painful 14 month period, Christmas again consisted of office decorations and music and parties and general festivities. But in law school, the Christmas season consists of prepping for finals. It's really not very festive. Thanksgiving begins the mad crush of last minute work. (Every semester, I swear I'm not going to put it off, and every semester, I delay more and more.) Christmas sort of exists, somewhere out there. Sure, there are decorations on campus, a tree in the atrium, music, volunteer opportunities, etc. But arching over that is the general sense of doom that accompanies finals.
I love Christmas. I love the lights and the music and the stories. I hate living so close to a major mall at Christmas, but I've learned alternate routes. And I really miss getting to truly experience the season like I could before law school. Thankfully, this is my last Christmas as a law student, so hopefully next Christmas will be much more enjoyable. It will be nice to again look forward to December instead of dreading it with everything I've got.
And with the end of the Christmas season comes the end of Holidailies. A few more entries, and then hopefully, it's not back to sporadic posting. I'm going to try to post something of substance at least twice a week. If not more. Consider it yet another New Year's Resolution
I am now a few entries behind in Holidailies. I guess that was bound to happen, what with going out of town, and you know, finals. I think I'll try to do double posts somewhere to catch up.
Juvenile Law final today. I wasn't too concerned about it, and it wasn't too difficult. Apathy proves to be the best result yet again. I'm pretty sure our prof just a) doesn't want to fail anyone and b) doesn't want to grade long exams. Can't say that I blame her.
Quite a few of us have been talking about how this doesn't feel like a finals period. First year, we were all completely panicked about finals. Second year, still a lot of stress, but not quite as bad. 3Ls? We just don't care! At the rate I'm going, next semester, I'll be lucky if I bother to show up for my final. Apathy grows, I tell you.
One final left. Secured Transactions. Just thinking about it makes my eyes roll back in my head. It will be hard, but it will be fine, and then it will all be over. And then time for house cleaning like woah because Bill is coming to visit for a few days. And well, I'd prefer no one know what a slob I become during finals.
In my non-study time (which recently, has been most of the time), I've been reading this. Excellent book. I don't know why I never picked it up before, because I like most of Jennifer Weiner's stuff. I think because Little Earthquakes didn't delight me as much as her earlier stuff, I didn't bother. Oh, and I don't usually read during law school. Again, with the 3L apathy.
But seriously. Fun book. At least so far.
And now, perhaps some studying before I sit down to watch tv in 39 minutes and totally zone out.
Or maybe I will just finish this glass of wine.
Since my 5K, I've really spent a lot of time thinking about running. I'm still kind of amazed that I'm going out and running 3.5 miles at a time. When I finish my favorite route, I turn the corner and hit a stretch that's probably a little over half a mile, maybe a little more. And I remember using that stretch while just starting Couch to 5K. I would run/walk down and back, and it was a struggle, but I did it. And now, when I hit that, I'm excited because it's the last stretch on the way home and it doesn't seem too bad at all.
I have a 5K planned for October. It's the law school's ambulance chase. Yes, that's right, a race that starts with a bunch of law students running after an ambulance. We know how to make fun of ourselves. It's just a run on campus, and I'm hoping to do at least as well as I did this past 5K, but depending on who runs it, I might just make it a fun run and run along with a friend.
I've been scouring local race calendars, and I think I've found another 5K to run in November. It's practically in my neighborhood. I want to do well for that one.
I think I'm going to sign up to run the St. Louis Half Marathon. It's the first Sunday in April. I have plenty of time to train up to it, but I'm thinking about it now because if I sign up before the end of September, the fee is only $45. It keeps increasing by various deadlines, but more importantly, if I say now that yes, I am running this half marathon, and I have already paid my money, I'm that much more inspired to keep up with my training. I'm not sure what training would entail at this point, probably just building my base mileage.
This week, I ran 12.5 miles. I'm following the "increase by 10% rule" so I'm adding at least a mile next week. I'm going to try to make Monday's run a 4.5 mile run. It's just adding a repeat loop onto my normal path, but I'll be running it in a different direction than I normally run it. It's kind of daunting, as when I was training for my 5K, I did two 4 mile runs, and neither was particularly enjoyable. I'd say my fitness level has increased since then though. I'm probably not going to increase another 10% the following week, just try adding this extra mile for two or three weeks, then increase again. I don't want to risk pushing myself too hard and burning out. I want to keep loving running.
I think my ultimate goal is to run the Disney Marathon (or half marathon) in 2008. Of course, that means that I'll need to get a job that will let me take that time off, but it's a decent goal.
