What a difference a year makes!!!

This time last year, I thought my world had crumbled.

Last October:

1. I was laid off on 10/6/09.

2. Didn't really have savings because I was just getting even on my monthly bills so I could not afford my apartment with no job or with the severance package they gave.

3. Used the severance package to moved back home to Louisiana and live with my mom.

4. Got a crappy job in my area making (nevertheless very grateful for b/c I didn't have to use up all my severance pay) no money and looking at everybody face I grew up with.

5. Waiting to mail off my law school application and worrying about what my next step was going to be if I did not get in.

This October:

1. Now I am back living on my own (feel like an adult again)

2. Have a job where even though the pay is not great, I am in my field again and most importantly I am gaining experience!!

3. In law school worrying about finals and making it to the next semester!!

Life is seem to be looking good!!

I truly had to believe that everything happens for a reason. That God was just preparing me for the move. For spending time and getting reacquainted with old friends and family members and setting a solid foundation back on old stomping grounds.

When I moved back home a year ago, I thought that showed a sign that I failed. I was so worried about what everyone else thought about me, that I was not focused what I thought of myself. I was giving individuals to much power over me and they did not even realize that they had this power over me. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, I was exhausted. I could not get myself together for nothing. I vowed to go into 2010 with a different attitude and that's exactly what I did (to some extent).


2010 brought a new job (not the current one) where I was interacting with individuals in the legal field and obtaining real courtroom experience. It made my quest for a law degree that much stronger. I finally received the acceptance letter and I eventually moved out.

Do I still worry about what people say about me or how I am perceived in their eyes? Sadly I do, but its something that I am working on everyday. Now it is just a different type of people and a different set of standards I feel I failed at. As I interact with more of the people I went to law school with the FIRST TIME, I get to that shameful place again. Nevertheless I can say that its getting better. Technically I don't have time to think about that stuff, I am too busy reading, outlining, and studying. LOL...

Slowly but surely things are getting better.... Do I have my days of "Bre you are f**king up, get it together!!" YES..... However I know that those days come with the terrority of my law school journey. Do I hate working and going to school part time? Yes, but again this is my journey and I cannot compare my journey with anyone else.

That's all folks....... Have you had a year that changed dramatically???? Let me know...

Weight Wednesday - More like nothing Wednesdays

The goal was to be able to walk/run a 5k this Saturday (I want to do at least three in a year's period), but when I found out that my nephew first birthday party and a classmate wedding was going to be on the same day, I knew that I was not going to be able to do it that day.  I have to fit studying in at that time since my entire afternoon is booked and it is my last weekend of freedom (at least until finals). 

With that being said, I still wanted to train, I would just be better prepared for the next one I sign up for.  So with that in mind and the fact that my ex (the ONE) was coming into town.  Mind you I have not saw him in SIX (almost seven) years, I wanted to look my best.

HOWEVER....  I am still at my same weight..... The biggest I have ever been.  For some reason I cannot do it!  I want to really REALLY bad, but something is holding me back mentally.  I thought I had a better grip on this issue (setting goals into motion), but I guess I do not. 

One thing that I have accomplished is eliminating fast food out of my diet and cooking more at home.  I am on my third week of no fast food.  I have not seen a difference in my mood, energy level or weight (still the same size), but I am satisfied that I have gave into going to McDonald's and getting a 10pc nugget meal. 

The time is near....... FINALS

It is getting down to the wire..... I have 29 days before classes end. How am I doing?

Criminal Law 

1. Much better than I thought I was going to do. We are on our 6th hypo with the last two being "gumbo" hypos, which means that it is a scenario with TONS (like 35-40) of crimes in them.

2. I have tackled my first three hypos and created “model” answers for, now I just need to commit them to memory. Which are criminal responsibility, causation, intoxication/insanity and self-defense. I have a lot more to go.

3. My TA for this class has reassured me that I am on the right track so that was encouraging. Lets just hope I can stay on this road....

Contracts

1. Up until now, it was going much worse than I thought it was going to go. I was real excited about this class, but (I think) due to the fact that the book we are using had Damages as the first subject. It took me for a loop. However we have moved on and now I am coming to grips with the new material.

2. At first and probably due to my criminal law professor telling us from day one what he wanted on the final and how he wanted it, I did not know what to expect from her regarding the final. Add in that I did not comprehend the material, I had a recipe of confusion. However everything is slowly coming into place and once I actually give the class the much-needed attention it deserves (because truthfully I have been giving the attention to criminal law), I think I can do wonders in this class.

3. This week or the next one, she will be giving us an "ungraded" midterm. So one class we will take the midterm and next class period we will go over it. Maybe this will help us (b/c I think the entire class is lost) learn what she expects of us regarding the final. After I see the midterm, maybe it will make me more comfortable.

Legal Research & Writing

1. The easiest, hardest class I ever had. LOL.... Seriously...

2. Finished the first draft of the memo. This is 75% of my grade for Legal Writing. I think I am comfortable with it. I have a conference with her to go over it today and I am hoping that I do not have to change a lot of things. I was given this tidbit of advice. COMPLETE THE ENTIRE MEMO so that I can have more input from her. So instead of giving her just the sections that she wanted, I completed the entire thing and I will have more time to work on my weak areas from jump street. I think we get only one more conference with her regarding the memo.

3. I like her teaching method, when she actually does teach. LOL!! It takes a lot of time for her to get her groove and by that time 2 hours have gone by and we only have one left, she tries to cram three hours of lecture into 1. Not good.......

4. With regards to Legal Research, most of that time was spent in the library doing actually legal research using the books. My school pride themselves on teaching their students to use the law library and not just using Westlaw. Actually we are not allowed to use Westlaw until next semester or next year.

5. I have a “Citation” quiz this Thursday, my goal is to ace this because I may need this to balance out the memo grade.