Showing posts with label 1L. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1L. Show all posts

Thursday, March 24, 2011

It's the "FINAL" Countdown!!

I apologize in advance, this post is everywhere, just like my life these days!!

As of today, I have 35 days until the last day of classes and finals start. I am definitely in panic mode! LOL!! I have a million flash cards and several outlines for each class lying around everywhere. I do not even know where to start… Any advice is greatly appreciated.


I did not go back to my five day work week and thank God because I would be in even worse of a situation if I did. I still have not found productive things to do with the little free time that I have other than watching TV and sleeping. I have two HUGE stacks of magazines in my room that have been neglected as well as I have not been reading for leisure (who wants to look at words after reading legal books all day) and also neglected my book blog. I tried to do Jillian Michaels’ “30 day shred” because I am trying to get in shape, but stopped after day 13/14 (cannot remember).

I have to admit, this semester took a whole lot out of me energy wise. This semester has been filled with glee (because I am still in school), aggravation, disappointment, uncertainty, and rage. However I just continue to remind myself that we all (meaning people in law school) have to go through it and while some people are better at handling it, some (in this case, me) could possibly go crazy. I often sit in class daydreaming that I would meet some wonderful guy, we will hit it off great and he would say, “Why don’t you quit your job and strictly focus on going to school, I will take care of all your bills and necessities.” Wouldn’t that be great??? LOL!!!

On the positive side, I am about to be a year in on this four year sentence!! LOL! Time is surely flying by, but I am not complaining (even though I am not prepared) because the faster it come the faster it will be over.

Since I am almost one month away from finals, this Friday is my second annual, “Last Friday of Freedom Until Finals Celebration”!! This is where I pick a venue, with this year being a place that has $3 Martinis on Fridays and I plan to drink until my heart’s content and just have fun with friends. No telling where this evening will lead to and possibly end, but I believe it will be eventful nonetheless.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

1 Semester down and 7 more to go......

Well I am back!  December/January was a very stressful period as I wait for grades to determine if I am back in school.  I never want to go through that again and I do not wish it on my WORST enemy.  I knew that flunking out the first time took a big chunk of my confidence, but I had no clue how much until last semester.  I thought that during my six years away, I was "cured".  I was soooo wrong.  I am learning that it is an ongoing process. 

Nevertheless, it is a new semester and I have a fresh start to do better.  This semester I am taking:

Obligations
Civil Law Property
Legal Writing II and Oral Advocacy

Currently I am working on three days a week.  So I have Thursdays and Fridays to study and read ahead for class.  However after Mardi Gras, I will be back to my regular five day work schedule.  This semester I am trying to find more productive things to do with my leisure time (which in all honestly isn't that much) other than laying in the bed watching mindless TV.  I hoping that I can be more consistent with my blog so that I can work on my writing. 

As far as my classes goes, they are very time consuming, but after I get over the fact of it being so much work, the difficulty of the work is not hard at all.  I believe that if I STICK to my study schedule at least 50%, I will do extremely better than I did this previous semester.

Wish me luck!!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

The Semester is over!!! (31 Day Challenge)

FINALS ARE FINALLY OVER!!!

ONE MORE DAY OFF FROM WORK!!!!

So now that school is out for the semester I can get back to doing the normal things in life.  I have so much to blog about.  During the semester, I have come to a major life decision.  Also I am currently participating in a 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge and it has been pretty eye opening to say the least. The challenge started on December 1st, so today is the 8th day. 

The purpose of the challenge is to help you:
  1. Rediscover your passion and purpose in life.
  2. Get clear about your goals for the new year.
  3. Create a map for your ideal life.
  4. Try new things and live outside of your comfort zone.
I think it is a great way to gain some clarity in your life because I know I sure need some. 

Please stay tune this weekend when I give you a recap on the days 1-10!!!!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

FINALS - One more to go.......

Three finals down and one more to go......

Sunday, October 31, 2010

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...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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. 

Monday, October 25, 2010

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.

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Week "END" Review! 8-29-10

Last week's post, after reading it, was very depressing, and after actually picking up the book and reading.  It was not so bad.  I guess I just had a bad case of nerves.

We had our first “official” week of school and I did not start on the right foot because I did not get the appropriate amount of sleep (because I procrastinated and didn’t start studying until 5pm) so by the time I left work and made it to class, I was exhausted.
Funny storyAs I was about to leave work and head to campus to get some reading done before class, my boss asked me did I have my books in the car. After replying yes, he requested that I go get them out of the car and go over the cases with him!!!! At first I was like what????? Nevertheless I am so grateful that he took interest because he really help me understand the cases and I felt like, “Ok I think I can do this.” I felt like I comprehended the material and actually went to class with confidence.

I am becoming more confident that I will do well my first semester.  Now that my mental state is getting better, I need to start focusing on my procrastination.  This needs to be eliminated before next weekend.  It is a problem that I am glad I am noticing now.  At the beginning of the week I was thinking that maybe working and going to school is not the best thing for me, but I am wrong.  I am learning a lot at work and all I really need to do is use my time wisely (and truthfully I am not).

OHHHH...  This week has been interesting in the money department.  I try to remain as discrete as possible because I do not want ANYTHING coming back to haunt me, but I can officially say I HATE THE FINANCIAL AID DEPARTMENT.  I just want someone to explain to me how can I do everything in a timely (no EARLY) fashion, and every step of the way I have had issues.  It came to a point this week that it distracted me from concentrating in a seminar that I was attending.  Thank goodness I have a job making a little money or I would be up the street.  The sad thing is that I still don't have my money and don't even know when I am going to get it.  SMH.......

Lastly, a "blast from my past" came to town this weekend.  It was a pleasant surprise to say the least.  It made me aware of how I want a relationship, but how right now..... it would not be possible.  How selfish would I be to try and start something now?  I barely can find time during the week to eat dinner and then my weekends (should) consist of studying.  It would be impossible. 

Next weekend is Labor Day weekend and I wanting to use those THREE days to read ahead and get on the ball. 

Wish me luck!!!