2L Year
Almost Halfway There!
November 1, 2021
Wow, I really don't know where the time went. Quick little recap about this summer, I took two classes and did a full time internship working with the Department of Homeland Security in the ICE division. I learned so much while working there (including the fact I would love to work for them one day!). I worked mainly with the National Security division and a lot of high level terrorist activity and it truly felt like I was not working while working. It was great. The only thing I wish I did was have the externship in person, but you win some you lose some amiright(?)
I also took LS3 over the summer which was BRUTAL. This class was all about appellate advocacy, and boy oh boy I know I do not want to do that. It was a constant stress ball the entire time you're giving your argument. Needless to say, m we needed to submit two 40 page briefs in 6 weeks *sigh* but it's fine because we got through it!!!
Now, I'm on week 11 of my classes of my 2L year and I am registering for classes in two days. this is wild. I've been taking an advocacy class where we learn how to properly conduct a trials and learning objections in my evidence class and I am starting to feel like a real lawyer. Once again, this is wild. It's actually happening. This weekend, I have a competition for arbitration and negotiation for Esports. I had to learn Overwatch the video game for this particular negotiation because we are representing a player. It's really exciting
1L Year
Recap
2021
So, needless to say, you can probably tell by the dates, I kind of neglected this page for the last few months. I'm not gonna lie, second semester 1L destroyed me. Apparently stress-induced mono is a thing??? because I had it. I got diagnosed in early April and was sleeping for 18 hours a day in the smack-dab middle of the semester. That was terrible. I would not recommend and definitely advocate to rising 1Ls to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!!! I was studying the 14-16 hours a day and I was focusing on learning the seemingly impossible material that my health went out the window. I was eating MAYBE once a day and drinking a pot of coffee a day. Around 3pm I would double down on that mid-afternoon hump with an energy drink. When I did convince myself I had a second to treat myself to something yummy, I would go to Panera. The Baja chicken bowl there is UNBELIEVABLE.
Okay, but seriously. I passed my classes with the grades I wanted even though I momentarily hated my life. Yes, I totally wish I did things differently, I was not smart about it and would not recommend to anyone to do what I did. But we made it. :)
Week 8 - What's Motivation???
October 15, 2020
Anyone know what this word "motivation" is??? People keep using this word but I can't seem to find it anywhere! I've been searching up and down and all around my couch for it, even checked Netflix and decided maybe watching Emily in Paris would show me what it is. I started and finished it in the same day and still don't have a clue!
Okay, but seriously...week 8. Boy oh boy, I had my first midterm last Friday (but it feels like 4 years ago) and I think my brain was like, "Yup, that's enough, let's take a week-long break." Well, apparently school doesn't stop, it keeps going. LOL I was happy to hear my classmates have also reached a plateau once we reached the peak of Mt. Everest. You know how they say going down is more challenging than the climb?? CAN CONFIRM. this is getting HARD. Contracts?? My favorite class?? YEAH IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, I've had to put so much time into figuring out this complex concept of consideration. Like isn't that considered acceptance?? He lost $10 million, isn't that a legal detriment??? NO?! ...okay. Can we go back to Lucy v Zehmer pls *sigh*
Anyway, if anyone can hit me with a link to rekindle my motivation, that would be FANtastic. Time to go catch up on my 100 pages of property *insert upside-down smiley face here*
UIC John Marshall
September 15, 2020
So, I'm officially on my fourth week of law school and I keep hearing the same thing over and over again from people outside of school, "Very tough road ahead, looking forward to seeing IF you can do it." "Law school is so hard, are you sure you want to do that?" or my personal favorite, "You really want to become a liar for a living?" Really...? Is that what you think I'm doing - what we're doing as students in law school? Practicing to become LIARS?
I'm here to learn the law and how to interpret it, to establish justice, to protect our constitution, to stand up for what I believe in, to give a voice to the people that don't have one, to advocate for the rights of humanity. I keep hearing all of these phrases being thrown around about not being able to do it and it disheartens me that lawyers have such a bad reputation. Without lawyers, our right to democracy, the first amendment, would cease to improve and advance with the times. It just means we're going to have to work harder to bring a more positive connotation to being a lawyer.
These are some of the reasons why I chose to step away from social media. It's not just that it's distracting (because it so, totally, is) but the negative ~vibes~, if you will, is something that not only I but anyone, shouldn't have to deal with.
Yes, the first month of 1L has been hard, has stretched me thin, has kept me up late, but it will not break me and neither will any negative comments from people who aren't going through what I am. I don't mean to come on here to sound like I'm complaining, but just as a reminder to not let people get in your way of your true passion.