Ronda Haynes
Age: 40
Undergraduate School: University of Phoenix
Undergraduate Major: Business
Hometown: Cleburne, TX
Status: Part-Time Evening
Email: rshaynes@law.txwes.edu
4/24/13 - It is the Wednesday before finals and I am not quite sure what to think at this point. I loved my classes this semester, but now I have this overwhelming sense of doom. I am going to fail Criminal Procedure and Accounting, I just know it! So the stress is starting to get to me and my husband and children are trying to find ways out of the house. I cannot wait for the next two weeks to end!
I do have something to look forward to though. I will have several days off from work over the next two weeks! I can sleep in, take my time getting a shower and getting dressed, then mosey my way into Fort Worth and not have to rush. It will be a nice break from the everyday routine.
This year has flown by for my family. As I have mentioned almost every blog, my son will be graduating soon and moving out for the first time. Graduation invitations have gone out in the mail and plans are being made for dinner and an after party. I just hope we make it to graduation. I guess my son has senioritis because his grades are just horrible! What do you do? It’s the last period of his last year in high school and in his mind, he is apparently done. This too shall pass!
The summer is coming and I will get a real vacation for a change. Every year we plan a vacation and something comes up that we cannot go. This year we are going to the coast for some fun in the sun and on the beach. Finally! Now if I can just survive the next two weeks.
4/17/13 - Sometimes I think I am absolutely crazy for thinking I can go to law school at night, have a family, and work full-time. What on Earth was I thinking? As if my life did not hold enough of a challenge for me. I have two teenagers for goodness sakes! I am challenged!
Let me tell you, being a 40-year old student is getting to me. The lack of sleep, the stress, and the day-to-day grind is starting to get old. Do I ever feel like giving up? Yes. Do I give up? NEVER! I will never surrender. I know the end will be upon me before I know it and every minute of my journey has been well worth it.
Law school has changed me. Growing up I was very opinionated and passionate, but reckless. I was not shy or reserved. However, I was not always assertive. I “went with the flow” a lot just to keep from upsetting the status quo. I am no longer that person. I am still outgoing, but I am a little more reserved in how I deliver my opinions. I am assertive. I am passionate, but I am able to argue more logically and more effectively. I think about my position before I speak. I think before I speak rather than speaking before I think. I love who I am becoming. I love the woman I am growing into.
4/3/13 - I have Spring fever. I am tired of being stuck in an office all day and stuck in class all evening. I feel as though I never see the light of day. Every day is the same old routine. I keep telling myself it’s almost over and I only have 3 more semesters, but it is difficult to look at the bright side. We have a couple of weeks left of classes and then finals. Last semester I felt confident and ready to tackle finals. This semester I feel like finals are going to tackle me!
April is going to be a busy month for our household. I have several Saturday events at the law school, several at the high school for my son, and am trying to fit in study time around that. Something has to give somewhere. I know my family has been suffering my wrath lately and hopefully my stress levels will drop soon and we can have a nice enjoyable summer.
I have stated many times to prospective students that going to law school affects the entire family, not just the student. It is true. My children are older which I thought would make it easier for me to go back to school, but now they feel as though I am not as “family oriented”. I try to make every minute I have with them count, but I know I am failing miserably this semester. Sometimes I think it would have been a little easier on the family if the kids were younger when I went back to school, but every age has its own set of challenges.
I guess this blog is a little depressing. I feel like I have changed and grown as a person over these last two years and I am proud of myself. But right now I just want to crawl into bed and stay there! I need a nice, long vacation. No work. No school. No stress. I know I am dreaming…maybe one day.
3/27/13 - Easter sure did sneak up on me this year. Finals are once again right around the corner and we are registering and planning for our next semester. I feel confident in my classes but I am not ready for finals. I am ready for the summer break. I cannot imagine going to summer school. I will once again abstain from torturing myself further by taking classes during the summer. Normal semester course loads are torture enough for my taste!
Once I get past finals, we will be greeting family and friends for my son’s graduation. This year has been very hectic for me and very emotional. I am sure I will find myself crying many times over the summer! I am looking forward to my son’s first year of college but I am dreading him moving out. It will be a big change for us at home. I am not sure if it will affect me more or his sister. She will not have anyone to fight with when he is gone. What is a sister to do?
3/6/13 - Spring Break is my best friend. I just do not understand how it is possible for someone to be this exhausted! I plan on catching up on some MUCH needed rest over Spring Break. Of course I will still be working full time, but at least I can get home at a decent hour and maybe even make it to bed before midnight! I have to admit I am a little jealous hearing about all of these wonderful trips my classmates are taking for Spring Break. But alas, I must sacrifice myself for the greater good by staying home and working so that others can go have fun.
There is not much of an update this week. Things are steadily moving along as usual. We are getting closer to my son’s high school graduation and closer to him moving into the dorms. The only thing that I really find frustrating lately is the fact that my daughter can’t seem to turn in her homework on time. What is up with that? We had the same problem with our son last year. I guess my kids get Junior-itis rather than Senior-itis.
I guess in a way I feel the same way the kids do though. I am exhausted and just worn out in general. Between school, work, and home, I think things are finally catching up to me. I need some down time. I hope Spring Break helps give me a renewed spirit to make it through. I’ve gone too far to give up but it feels like the end goal is so far away! The good news is that I am halfway there!
2/20/13 - I realized a couple of days ago that my first born will be graduating high school in a little over three months. He was accepted to UT Arlington so he will be going to college in the fall. Is it wrong of me to be happy he is staying close to home? I am so proud of him! He wants to live on campus instead of commuting, so I will have to deal with him moving out. I know all parents go through this, but I am not ready for my kid to move out!
Work is business as usual so there is nothing new to report there. I do need some time off though. Even though we have gone places over the last year, I feel like I haven’t really had a real vacation. I want to go somewhere that I have never been and do something I have never done. I want to be able to come back and say “Wow – I will never do that again!” I am just kidding. I would like to go somewhere new though, and hopefully enjoy it!
My classes are going well. I think I have found a steady rhythm finally. It only took me two years to get to that point, but I finally feel steady. I am still extremely tired. I think it will take me another four years after law school to catch up on the four years of sleep I missed! Half way through though!
2/6/13 - We are already into February and I am really not “feeling it” this semester. I love being in law school, but I am at my two year mark and I guess I am just a little tired. I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but I feel bummed. Perhaps it is because I waited so late in life to go to law school, but sometimes it feels like my life is already half over. I feel so old! I went to the eye doctor last week and found out I am blind as a bat! I think I am the only 40 year old in bifocals. That’s probably what has me so bummed out. The good news is that I can actually see! Maybe it will help improve my grades!
We are getting close to graduation for my son. Invitations are ordered and paid for, cap and gown ordered, annual and ad paid for, it is all just about done. I’m very excited for him, but sad too. My kids are so much a part of my life that I am going to hate this new transition. I know everyone goes through it, but it is emotionally draining.
Hopefully, my next blog will be a little more upbeat. I feel like such a downer, but these are things that I am feeling this week.
1/23/13 - I think this semester is going to really beat me down. I scheduled my classes so that I am taking 4 this semester, and I am in class on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. I left an extra day off during the week so I could have a little more time for reading and extra studying. Well, I had good intentions. It seems that having an extra day during the week means that I have more time for work and more time to do chores around the house. I think it backfired!
My schedule is a mess this semester. Con Law is really hard for me to read and understand right now, so I am getting bogged down in the reading. Honestly, my professor scares me to death! She really challenges us to engage our brains and actually use what we know, which is great but very intimidating! Not to say my previous professors did not, but it is a little different. I am going to bed later every night and getting up much earlier every morning to fit my reading in. I am NOT a morning person at all! I thought the lack of sleep as a first year student was rough, but now I am averaging 4 hours a night. We are only three weeks into the semester and I am exhausted!
On a brighter side, we had 60 new chicks delivered and they are so cute and fluffy! Weekends have been spent building fences and coops for the babies. My son is on the down side of his senior year and will be graduating soon. My daughter started her first job and is excited. We have a lot going on in the household this year. I am not looking forward to my son leaving home. At least I will still have school to keep me busy! Why do our kids have to grow up?
1/9/13 - I am halfway through with my first week of my fourth semester of my second year of law school. At the end of this semester, I will be halfway through law school! Not that big of a deal to some I guess, but to me, I am excited. I knew I could make it through law school, but working full time and going to school at night has proven more difficult than I anticipated.
After receiving my grades, I am reflecting back over the last two years. I have decided to contact Academic Support for some guidance on improving my study habits. It isn’t that my grades are terrible, but they are still not where I want them to be. I have tried something different every semester and nothing seems to work for me!
For those of you who do not know, Texas Wesleyan Law offers support to its students free of charge for anyone who would like assistance with study tips, outlining advice, practice exams, and other advice to ensure success in law school. As a first year student, we were highly encouraged to attend Academic Support sessions. I am now going to take advantage of it as an upperclassman and see if I can improve.
Other than the disappointment of grades, everything is pretty much the same as always. I am looking forward to my classes this semester, which I think I say every semester. My New Year’s resolutions for law school are to be more focused on school and stay current on all of my reading and take better notes!
12/18/12 - Well, we are at the end of the semester. All the extra time on my hands allowed me to be creative this week. I am truly not stressed over grades this semester (for once). Enjoy my poem to the rhythm of “Jingle Bells”. Finals are such a joyous time of year!
Dashing down the street,
In my beat-up red Ford truck.
Heading to the school
Wishing myself good luck.
Its finals night again,
I’m hoping that I pass.
I’m so tired of studying
I’ll be glad when it’s done at last.
Oh!
Finals stink.
I hate this week.
I really hope I pass.
I will be so glad
when this is done
and we start a new class.
Oh!
Finals stink.
I hate this week.
I know that I will pass.
I am so glad
That this is done
I can’t wait for my new class.
12/12/12 - Christmas is coming to town and I have not decorated or shopped. I’m not really in the bah-humbug mood, but I am not in the decorating mood either. Maybe I will at least get the tree up by Christmas Day!
No more studying for finals for me. My last final is over and now I can enjoy the break until spring semester. I am taking 4 classes next semester, but I will have Wednesdays off. I am so excited! I hope I enjoy next semester as much as I did this past one, but I am a little worried about Constitutional Law. It will probably not be as fun.
Now I just have to worry about the actual grades. I told my husband that I felt really good about my exams this semester. I was not stressed or worried, and I felt very confident going into them. They were easier than I expected them to be. That tells me one of two things: I either did REALLY great on them, or I totally screwed up and failed my classes. I am hoping for the first one of course. Nothing left but the crying...
Next week will be my last blog of the semester and I plan on having a little treat for everyone. Check back next week to see what I have done with all of this extra time on my hands!
11/28/12 - The fall semester is almost behind us and we are all gearing up for finals. I am not sure if I have more confidence in myself or if it is because I have already been through this process, but I am not nearly as nervous or stressed over finals this year. I am actually looking forward to my finals. Maybe I am still sick? I think I should see a doctor.
Thanksgiving break was wonderful. We had a lot of fun with the family and got to see others we haven’t seen in years. I was introduced to the world’s most spoiled dog as well. She really grew on me and I miss her sweet little face and big radar ears! I’ll have to bug my sister-in-law for pictures.
The worst part of the holidays is going back to work. I feel like every day this week has been a Monday. We are swamped and more coming in every day. I know it is better than not having any work at all, but give me a little break at least! The next few days are going to be spent catching up at work and studying for finals. How exciting is that?
11/20/12 - Thanksgiving and finals are upon us. I’m not sure which one is worse. On the one hand, you have a day that we all surround ourselves by those we love (and those we just tolerate), gorge ourselves to the point of being in a turkey coma, then complain for the next week about having to eat all of the leftovers and whine about being fat.
On the other hand, we have several days that we lock ourselves up in a room the size of a shoebox with no contact to the outside world, pulling out our hair, chewing on our nails, all hopped up on 5-hour Energy Drinks, with no shower, no sleep, and minimal restroom breaks. Then our loved ones all draw straws to see who the unlucky sap is that gets to enter the room of doom to offer support and deliver food, only to have their head bitten off in a fit of rage for their interruption.
So much to look forward to this week!
Actually, if you are one of the lucky ones, you have in-laws like mine that you look forward to spending time with! I cannot wait to get out of town to see everyone and dance and listen to music and just have fun. No work, no school, and no stress, until Sunday. Then my poor family runs for the hills.
So to all of you that are dreading spending time with the in-laws (you know who you are), I leave you these words of wisdom: eat as much turkey as you can in as short of time as possible so you will pass out and sleep the rest of the day!
In all seriousness, I hope everyone has a very safe and enjoyable holiday. I wish you all safe travels, good food, and good company. And good luck to all who are studying for those exams.
11/7/12 - I am happy to report to everyone that I am healthy, happy, and back to school and work! I am registered for classes next semester and am pretty happy with my schedule. I was really looking forward to choosing the majority of my classes this time until I received the full course schedule. It was very overwhelming and intimidating! I fretted over class schedules for almost the entire week! Now I wish the classes were just chosen for me again. It would save me some unnecessary stress.
I am just amazed at how fast the year is going by. It seems like yesterday we were halfway through the semester. Now we are at the end of the semester and finals are upon us. I put off finalizing my outline because I thought we had plenty of time. I woke up today realizing I am so far behind it isn’t even funny. How did it get away from me? I strongly encourage everyone to constantly update their outlines as you go along. If you take notes on paper rather than on the computer, then update your outline as you go along. Don’t wait like I did this semester! Yikes! At least I feel pretty confident in what I have learned and retained this semester.
We are headed out of town for Thanksgiving this year – again. I look so forward to the trip but still worry about finals. I know some of my classmates cancel Thanksgiving plans, but for me, it is a much needed break. I do study over the holiday, but being with my husband’s family brings me so much joy that I would be miserable if I missed Thanksgiving! There is no way I will sacrifice that! I managed it last year, I can manage it again this year.
Wrapping it up, I would like to say congrats to all my friends who passed the Bar. To those who didn’t – hang in there! You can do this. And can I just say – 90.07% - oh yeah.
10/24/12 - This week has brought a new challenge for me – it’s called being sick! I managed to make it through my entire first year of law school without getting sick at all. I cannot say that now. As I write this blog today, I am thinking about going back to bed. My body hurts in places that I didn’t think could hurt from being sick. It was rough at the first of the week, because I did not feel well and I was still going to class and trying to get my reading done. Now I’m just hoping to live through the rest of the week class or no class!
I am going to be behind, but I cannot pass this on to my classmates! Now that you know I am miserable, I will apologize to all as I am going to crawl back into bed and pray I can join the land of the living by the weekend. Who on earth has time to be sick?
10/10/12 - Ever feel like you are destined for something great but you are too tired to do it? Yep – that’s me this week. No matter how much sleep I get, I am still so very exhausted. I am working with a friend on a great project that will benefit so many people, but I have just been too tired to actually accomplish anything! I will get there though.
On the other hand, I came across a funny dilemma. I don’t think my Leg Reg Professor will like it too much though. Allow me to explain. This semester I am in Civil Procedure, Wills and Estates, and Legislation and Regulation. I really enjoy all of these classes and I have the greatest professors. I truly look forward to each of these classes every week. So what is the dilemma? Every single time I open my Leg Reg book to read at home I fall asleep! Seriously! It’s not boring reading. The cases are quite interesting! I can read any other book all day long and be just fine. The second I open my Leg Reg book, I get about half-way through the page and my head starts bobbing. Oh yeah, you know the head bob. You’ve done it before too. My husband thought I was kidding. I put the book down and went to do some laundry. Being wide awake, I open the book and…yep, another head bob. What is up with that! It took me two days to get about 40 pages read!
Maybe I really am just that tired. Sorry Professor – I really do love the class!!!! I think next weekend I will stand up and read. Wish me luck!
9/26/12 - Why do we drive ourselves to do more that humanly possible? Is it not enough that we work full time, go to school at night, and raise families all at the same time? Apparently I am a masochist, because that is not enough for me. I think there are a few available hours for me to torture myself between 1:00 AM and 4:30 AM.
I thought my second year of law school would be a little easier. In a sense it is – I can do my reading more quickly and can read the cases and spot the issues easier. So instead of enjoying that extra free time, what do I do? I decide this semester I am going to get up at 4:30 AM every morning and start running! It’s great to be fit and I am trying to lose weight and get healthier, but seriously? What the heck was I thinking?!
The last two weeks have been an adjustment as my body comes to terms with the new schedule. A friend of mine looked at me in class last night and asked if I was okay. In other words, I looked like total poop! Apparently my body is rebelling. So now you know what is going on outside of school and work and family.
School is going great. I stayed after class last night and visited with one of my professors when he mentioned that we are almost half way through this semester. Wow. It seems like only yesterday we were sitting in our first class! We are almost half way through our Civ Pro book already. I can’t believe we are already looking at midterm practice exams, Halloween, Thanksgiving, then finals! Looks like I need to get busy on my outlines! I did not do as good of a job of keeping up my outlines this semester.
Note to self for next semester – start my outlines earlier!
9/12/12 - These last couple of weeks have been kind of challenging for me outside of school. In the last blog, I wrote about my truck breaking down and all of the other things that seemed to have gone wrong at one time. I made it past all of that and then the A/C clutch goes out on my truck. Every time I think I am getting somewhere, something else comes up! Enough already! Does the world feel like law school is not challenging enough for me, because I can assure you, I am challenged!
Add to the challenges of transportation, I am trying to change my eating habits and exercise more. We all know what a challenge having good eating habits in law school is – pizza around every corner and in every meeting, vending machines full of chips and candy, water vending machine that refuses to ever take my bills. Yeah - not happening. I know a food truck has been scheduled for some evenings. Maybe that will help me stay on track.!
I do not feel as stressed this year as I did my first year, but I certainly wonder how in the heck I balanced home, school and work. It continues to be a struggle to get everything done every week. Every day is a balancing act and I fail most times. I try to get a schedule in place, but nothing works. Maybe I’ll get the hang of this by the time I graduate!
I still feel overwhelmed at times and I have started feeling guilty because I’m not spending more time at home. It doesn’t help that this is my son’s last year in high school. Sometimes I feel like I am a bad mother for not being there. I know my family is proud of me and they support me, but I still feel like they would be happier if I were home more. I guess this is natural and we all have these feelings at one time or another. This too shall pass. I’m sure the next blog will be much happier!
8/29/12 - My third semester of law school has started. I was so excited to be back in school after the summer vacation. It was nice having the time off, but toward the end I felt like school would never start. Now it’s back to reading, briefing, and trying to figure out when I am going to sleep again. Oh the joys of law school.
This semester is going to be fun for me. I have been working as a probate paralegal for years. I really enjoy Wills & Estates and I look forward to going to school every Tuesday and Thursday. I have seen some first year students in the hallways that I have met throughout the last year at events. I would like to think that I handled my first semester better, but the truth is I probably looked just as stressed as they did.
Looking back through my blogs, I can tell I was a different person then. Stress was my life. Cheer up! It does get easier. Not because the classes are easier, but because you are learning valuable skills your first year that make the next few years easier. I promise by the end of the second semester, you will not have to read the same chapter 5 times just to figure out what the heck it actually says!
We have a lot going on at home as well. First week of school and my truck breaks down, dryer messes up, and a car backs into the bumper on my son’s car in a parking lot. Really? Do you have to throw it all at me at once? The next couple of weeks will be better. Thank you three day weekend!
7/18/12 - I love having the summer off. At first I missed being in class and being around all of the great friends I have made during the first year of law school. I have to admit that I was a little jealous of my friends that were in summer classes. Then finals came and I saw all of the Facebook postings about studying for finals and I had to laugh. Lucky me!!!! No studying, no stressing, just FUN.
But August is right around the corner and we will all be back in the same boat.
The big news for the summer was that we might end up being Aggies. I’m sure many of you know about the prospect of A&M buying the law school and that both parties signed a Letter of Intent. My family wanted to know how I felt about that. The jury is still out. On the one hand I am very excited for the school. On the other hand, I am a little worried. I do not handle change very well. We will see what affects the purchase has on the students, if any at all. I think the law school needs to offer an Aggie 101 class! What’s the deal with the thumbs up? I’m a Boomer Sooner – totally clueless when it comes to being an Aggie!
This will be a very busy year for me with my son graduating high school and all of the senior activities. Stay tuned!
**A Note on the Letter of Intent between Texas A&M and Texas Wesleyan - Legal Disclaimer**
http://www.law.txwes.edu/ProspectiveStudents/tabid/66/Default.aspx
6/13/12 - I never thought that writing a blog over the summer would be hard. I am so busy with work that I do very little in the evenings, now that I have the summer off. My life is so boring that I don’t have anything exciting to write about! It’s nice not having to worry about my reading over the weekend, and I do enjoy getting home at a decent hour after work, but I do miss my classmates and being busy all the time.
Summer is passing by so quickly. My son started a new job and my daughter is headed off to grandma’s house for a couple of weeks. I would love to trade places with my daughter so she can go to work every day and I can go to grandma’s house! It would be so much fun!!!
This next year is going to be bittersweet, since my son will be a senior. Before I know it, I will have 2 years of law school down and one child graduating and going off to college himself. If I could control time, I would make all of the wonderful things that go by so fast slow down, and all the horrible moments that seem to take forever to fly by! Oh well…back to work!
5/25/12 - I thought I would really enjoy having the summer off from school and spending time with my family, but I have found that I really miss my classmates! I think I may be crazy. Well, let me rephrase that – I know I’m crazy! After spending two semesters with the same group of people in my lockstep courses, it feels lonely without them! I find myself checking Facebook all the time to see if any of them have posted anything.
On the home front, we are revving up for summer. The kids are in their last week of school, and then they will be off half of June to grandma’s house. They are looking so forward to the time away! They come home for a couple of weeks then they are off to Disney World. I am so glad they get a fun-filled summer.
My summer will be filled with work, work, and even more work! It’s terrible how we have to work all week at the office and, when the weekend gets here, we work all weekend at home! I wish I had someone to do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry so I could sit around and do nothing! But then I would probably get bored. Hurry up August! I’m ready for school again!
5/9/12 - My last final of my second semester is done! Now I get to enjoy my summer and start all over in the fall. Whew.
My summer will be spent working, of course. My weekends will be spent with my kids while they are still around, although their summer is jam packed. Between band and color guard camp, staying with Grandma in Houston, and going to Disney World with the other Grandma, their summer is pretty booked. I will only have about 3 weeks with them over the summer and I’ll be working most of that! I do miss my kids. They grow up so fast.
At least I’ll have the summer to catch up on laundry! It is a blessing to have kids and a husband who help out around the house so I can go to school at night and follow my dream. Without them, this would not be possible. To tell the truth, I will be a little sad to not be going to summer school because I will have to go back to cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry!
On second thought, is it too late to enroll for summer?!
4/25/12 - As I study for my finals, I think about where I was one year ago today. As an admitted student, I was very excited about law school, but didn’t really think about what it was going to be like. I wanted to get ready for class so I bought a backpack, notebooks, etc. I thought I would create a list of some things for admitted students to do or think about while preparing this summer.
1. Get a wheelie bag. Some people don’t like them because they take up space in the hallways, are burdensome in the classroom, etc. Let me tell you – my shoulders and my back really appreciated the wheelie bag. It is so much easier than carrying all of your books in a backpack.
2. Have fun this summer. Once school starts, you have to learn to juggle the fun with the reading, writing, and research.
3. Attend Admitted Student functions. These events are fun, but they are also an opportunity to meet classmates and make friends. It was less intimidating for me to be able to walk into the classroom and see some friendly faces rather than a class full of strangers. It helps break some of the ice and create some lasting friendships – even with those students that are in the full time day classes.
4. Celebrate. Plan a special dinner or something to celebrate law school. My husband took me to a wonderful dinner to celebrate the week before school started. Not everyone gets accepted into law school. It is a great achievement, so celebrate it!
That’s all I have for now. Back to studying for finals!
4/18/12 - We are down to the last few classes of the semester. Now I am starting to panic over the Contracts final. It is rather intimidating to only have one grade for your class that rests on the final. And the final itself is 4 hours long. Oh yes, enter the Stress Zone.
I have to focus, breathe, and, most of all, avoid all of the sick people around me! Why is it that when you have something extremely important going on in your life, everyone around you gets sick? It’s like some B rated sci-fi flick. I can picture the scene: I’m running through the streets of downtown Fort Worth, weaving in and out of cars, on and off the sidewalks, just to avoid all the germs coming at me from every direction. All I am armed with is a bottle of Vitamin C, a container of hand sanitizer, and a can of Lysol! I am completely outmatched.
I have a week and a half between my two finals, which is really a nice treat. I can concentrate on studying for one at a time, instead of trying to balance my study time between the two courses. I think this second semester has been a little easier than the first, but it’s still not a walk in the park! My citation exam is tonight, which is going to be tough. Wish me luck!
Someone just sneezed here in the office. Now where’s my can of Lysol?
4/11/12 - This is the best week yet during law school for me. Of course, I still have three more years to go, so I’m sure I will have more great weeks. This week we have oral arguments in Legal Writing. Many of my classmates are stressed over this but I am actually excited. I cannot wait until I have a turn at my 5 minutes. I’ll post next week how it turned out.
Easter was fun, but any time we go out of town it seems to never be enough time away. It would be nice to have a couple of months off from school and work. At least I’ll have a break from school this summer. It’s just amazing how fast the time goes by. I am almost at the end of my second semester and I am starting to get nervous about finals. I’ve been working on my outlines in Contracts and Property, but I have let some of my reading go by the wayside. I will have to play catch-up to prepare for my exams. I will make sure that does not happen next semester!
I am looking forward to the fall semester, since I will be taking a class in my favorite subject – Wills and Estates. It will be so nice to be familiar with a subject and not have to learn everything from scratch. I know it won’t be state specific, but at least I will have somewhat of an edge. I hope!
4/4/12 - Wow. What an interesting week this has been! I know we are technically in Tornado Alley, but I have lived in the Fort Worth area my entire life and do not ever remember this many tornados. I am glad to hear there were no deaths. I am praying for all of those whose lives have been affected.
My trial brief is turned in for Legal Writing and finals are almost upon us. I had settled into a pretty good rhythm for the semester and felt relaxed for the most part. But as finals draw near, I feel the anxiety approaching. It always makes me nervous when finals arrive because I start second guessing how much I have already learned. Plus, it is a little intimidating to only have one grade for the class! It’s a make it or break it scenario. I’m glad I perform well under pressure!
Next, we are going to be doing oral arguments in Legal Writing. I am a little nervous about that. I do not fear public speaking, but we only have 5 minutes to give our oral arguments and I just hope I actually make sense in that 5 minutes! The Crawfish Boil is coming up on the 21st which will be some much needed fun after this semester. Then finals start on April 30. I’m ready for this semester to end and next semester to start!
3/28/12 - Life can be very disappointing sometimes! It seems everything has gone wrong this year for me. The next couple of lines will be whining, so feel free to skip ahead. I have ended up with a conflict so I could not run for reelection on the Student Bar Association. I am unable to attend the Barristers’ Ball this weekend, even though I already had a dress and shoes. I am not going to Disney World this summer after all. These are just a few. I’m through whining now.
Have you ever just stopped and thought “what the heck am I doing?” I kind of feel like that this week. I found myself wondering if law school is really where I need to be right now. I want to see that “light” at the end of the tunnel but I am so bogged down. I have always been a pretty upbeat person, but this week is just killing me. Perhaps I will feel better when I get this trial brief turned in for Legal Writing. Guess I’m still whining.
I am looking forward to Easter, which is right around the corner. It is so hard to believe this is the end of March already! Easter will be spent in Houston with my husband’s family relaxing, playing games, and watching movies. I am looking forward to putting the books down and letting loose for a couple of days. It will be a nice reward after that trial brief.
3/21/12 - It was so nice having a break from school and being able to go home after work and have dinner with my family. I miss my family, but I truly missed the simple act of us sitting down together and eating dinner as a family. My son will be a senior in high school next year, then off to college. My daughter will be a senior the next year after that, then she will be off. After having that time with them over Spring Break, I am glad I chose to take the summer semester off.
We are close to wrapping up our second semester, and then it is on to finals again. The beginning of the semester was a little rocky for me. I felt like I was sinking fast and still trying to catch up from the first semester. Now I feel like I have a handle on this whole law school thing and I can finally breathe! As crazy as it sounds, I am actually looking forward to final exams! Not that anything this semester is easy, but I finally found my groove. I just wish I could have found it MUCH sooner!
I am looking forward to the next few weeks as we have a lot of events going on at the school. Spring is here and it’s time for some much needed fun!
3/7/12 - Spring Break is finally upon us, and I find myself a little jealous that the day students actually get a break. Even though I do not have classes next week, I still have to work full time. My boss will take advantage of my break – I see lots of overtime in my near future! Time to catch up on all the work on which I am behind. Thank goodness I at least get one day off! Unfortunately, it’s never enough time to catch up on all of the things I need to do.
We received our next assignment for Legal Writing. I intend to work on it over the break like all of my classmates. I have to say I am actually excited about this assignment - writing a trial brief. Maybe I can get a couple of drafts knocked out before the break is over. I think I will also try to catch up on my reading in Contracts and clean up my outlines. Then again, maybe I’m overreaching. I do know I will be catching up on some much needed sleep!
I know this week’s blog is short, but there isn’t a lot going on right now with everyone looking forward to the break. My brain has already shut down, and it isn’t even Friday yet!
2/29/12 - Spring Break is fast approaching and I cannot wait to catch up on some much needed sleep. I am so looking forward to having at least one day off from work. I went to night school for my Bachelor’s degree and worked full time, but law school is much more challenging than my undergrad! Sometimes I wish I could afford to take time off from work and go to school during the day, but I know do not have that luxury.
Many of my classmates are getting ready for the summer session. If I could take one or two classes this summer, I certainly would, but we all have to make choices based on our individual circumstances. I think I really need the break during the summer to gather my thoughts, have some down time, and hit the books again in the fall. One thing for me that has been really confusing is trying to plan my courses for the next three years. What a chore! I’m not sure which is harder, taking the classes or just trying to plan them!
Today we are taking a practice exam in Contracts. This should be interesting. One thing I love about my professors so far is that they all offer practice exams so you can better prepare for their finals. It’s nice to have an idea of what to expect. We will see how I actually do though! More next week!
2/22/12 - It is always difficult when you have aging parents. I am lucky that I have not experienced the loss of a parent yet. But now we are on an emotionally bumpy road. As I promised earlier, I am going to share some of the road we are on so it may help someone else in the future. It’s hard sometimes to know what to share, because it is very important to me to keep much of my family’s personal lives private. At the same time, I want my blog to be of value to you, the reader, so you know that you will have some tough times ahead in law school. It isn’t fun and games, though I do love it.
It appears that my father is starting to show early signs of dementia. The law firm I work for handles a lot of guardianship and elder law situations, so this is a difficult thing for me to accept with my father. I know how difficult this can be for him and for my mother as well, and I worry that she cannot possibly handle any more stress. He is seeing his doctor about this, but that is weighing heavily on my mind.
On to a lighter note, Spring Break is just around the corner and I cannot wait for the time off from school. I look forward to getting some sleep! I will still be working full time during the day, but maybe I can take one day off to spend with my kids!
2/15/12 - Where does the time go? It amazes me at how quickly the semesters just fly by. One day you are trying to find your classroom, and the next you are taking a practice exam in the middle of the semester. Before you know it, it’s time for finals again. As they say, time flies when you are having fun!
On the home front, everything is moving along smoothly. My family and I are coping very well with the changes and the road ahead. As promised last blog, I will elaborate more when I can. One thing I can say, and I know my son will kill me for this, is he just got his first girlfriend! I’m so proud of him. I have yet to meet her but I am sure she will be good hearted just like him.
We are in the process of remodeling our house which is a very trying time. Add law school to that mix and it is a very volatile situation at my house! I feel for those of my classmates that have planned or are currently planning a wedding while working and going to school. I don’t know how they do it!
We are all superheroes in my mind. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No – it’s a Texas Wesleyan School of Law Night Student! Yep – that’s me.
2/8/12 - This week has been especially difficult for me. I came down with a cold on Sunday, I missed a couple of days of school, and I had to work on my memo for LARW. Try writing when you are doped up on cold meds – I imagine my poor writing professor will be thinking I am totally nuts and should probably quit law school now. Hopefully, he won’t be too harsh, although I have to admit I am a little scared to go back and read what I submitted. I too may be saying, “Are you nuts???”
I think the next few months are going to be even more challenging for my family as we enter into uncharted territory. I know I am being vague, but until we know more, and my family is comfortable with me sharing, this is as much as I can say for now. Just know that it is a positive direction.
I say all of this so you can understand that there is life outside of law school, and we all have to learn to balance it. As much as I wish nothing happened while I was in school so I could focus on one thing at a time, it just won’t happen. Perhaps by hearing about my struggles, I can assist you when you traverse through your own trials and tribulations. More to come next week!
2/1/12 - It’s that time of year where you, as a prospective student, are working on your law school application, or maybe you have already submitted one and you are checking your application status every five seconds. You are laughing because you know I am right. It is hard to believe I was doing that exact same thing only a year ago. I knew law school was for me, but I really had no idea the impact it would have on my life. I am much more confident in MYSELF and more assertive in my job.
I’ll pause here so you can check your status again. Go ahead, I’ll wait…
My first semester was exciting but disappointing. I was very unhappy with myself over my grades. But everyone at the school will tell you, and this is important, your grades do not define you. Take each semester with a grain of salt. If you are not happy with your grades, make some adjustments, evaluate your study habits, and improve the next semester.
Law school offers so many things – student organizations, events, luncheons, seminars, etc. You do not have to be involved in everything, and that’s okay. Find something that fits you. Prioritize your life – not just law school, but home too. In the end, it will all be worth it.
Finally, just know that if you don’t get accepted to law school this year, do not give up. I was denied my first time applying, and yet, here I am. Just don’t ever give up!
1/25/12 - Last week was a really difficult week for me. If you read my blogs from last semester, then you know the initial shock for me with law school was that my family didn’t stop doing things just because I wasn’t there. Their world didn’t end. It took me a while to come to terms with that.
But here we go again. My husband took the kids out to dinner three nights last week to reward them for excellent grades. I am home Friday night, and what do we do? NOTHING.
Every day, I am surrounded by family and friends. My classmates are awesome. It is comforting to know that they will be there each night and I look forward to seeing them. Yet, with all of these people surrounding me, I felt really lonely.
On a lighter note, the kids are doing so much better this semester with their grades. My daughter is starting Color Guard competitions, so I’ll take time to attend those on Saturdays. We have the Barrister’s Ball to look forward to this semester, and a trip to Disney World in the summer. It will be a wonderful year for me.
As always, there is more stress in my life than anything else. Alas, that is the life of a 1L. And probably a 2L. And maybe a 3L. I’ll never get away from stress!
But no matter what, I love my classes this semester and I believe I will do much better than last semester.
1/18/12 - This year is going to be a very busy year for me. We have several lawsuits heating up at work so I’m not able to focus a lot on school right now. That will probably hurt me in the long run. I hope I am not the only person that hasn’t started researching memo 3 for Legal Writing yet!
It is rough working full time and going to school at night. It is typical for me to work late into the night when trial starts the next day. Some people may have the type of job where you can leave for the day and be done with it - not in the legal field. Last night, I went back to work at 9:00 PM to finalize a trial notebook. I was home at 11:30 PM, only to be back at work at 7:30 AM. There is just never enough time.
If you can go to school full time and not work, then take advantage of that. I know many of us do not have that luxury. It is a hard road, but I know in the end it will all be worth it.
1/11/12 - My second semester of law school has started! I really enjoyed the break but it was difficult at first. It was a strange feeling not being in class every night, but then I fell back into the routine of things. Just when I became accustomed to going home every night and reading my Kindle books, school started! I could have used a few more weeks off.
Grades. A subject that nobody wants to talk about, yet everybody does. It was excruciatingly painful to wait for grades to post. I thought waiting to receive my application status was hard – just wait. I was checking Ramlink every few minutes knowing nothing was posted yet, and I would know via Facebook as soon as something was posted. Anything you want to know – just find it on Facebook.
Wrapping up, I have to say that the hardest thing about being in law school is the discipline. Since I am away from home so much during the semester, I try to spend time with my kids and still meet the needs of the household, such as cleaning and laundry. I also try to take on some of the other chores on the weekends, like feeding the chickens and gathering eggs, since the kids have to do it all week. It’s easy to put off studying or reading to do these other things, and that just isn’t going to work this semester. My family understands that school comes first – now it’s time for me to understand that!
12/14/11 - My first semester is over. I have picked up my book voucher and will buy next semester’s books this week. I have already started organizing my outlines for the spring semester. I would like to think I am being smart by getting a head start on next semester, but my friends and family just think I’m a nerd. That’s fine by me! Anything to make it a little easier next semester and less stressful!
I am looking forward to starting back to school so I can actually have a break from work. I am sure I have worked enough overtime hours to constitute the same amount of time I spent in class this semester. I wish I could leave on time just one night! Thank goodness I have a day off for Christmas.
I hope everyone has a great holiday break. I am sad that some of my friends are not returning, but I hope and wish the very best for them. As for the rest of my classmates, we will do this all again in January. I look forward to it!
12/7/11 - I had my last final on December 5th, so now I have completed my first semester of law school! Now it’s time to sit around and wait for weeks to find out my grades and see if I actually get to come back! Now that it is finally over, my family and friends have all asked me if it is still worth it.
OF COURSE IT IS!
I can honestly say that working full time in a law office and going to law school at night is the most hectic my life has ever been. I not only have school and work, but family, the State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division, pro bono work, volunteering, and somewhere along the way, I think I do get some sleep and somehow my laundry gets done (thank you TJ and Taylor). Hectic as it is, this time in my life also seems to be the most rewarding and fulfilling. I am still excited about being in law school and I am going to miss going to class every night. My boss told me I am one of the “weird ones” that actually loves law school. She thinks there is something wrong with me!
Next week will be my final blog of the semester until January (I think), so I will close this one for now.
11/22/11 - My first semester is officially over. Now we enter our exam schedule. I am nowhere near as stressed over the exams as I have been over just going to class and getting my reading done. At this point, I feel pretty confident in the level of knowledge I have retained in Torts and Criminal Law.
It is amazing at how quickly I adjusted to the law school schedule, and now it seems strange that I won’t be going to the school, but home instead. I know my family will be happy to have me home for the next several weeks!
Here are some closing thoughts before finals:
1. Listen to the advice from others – it truly does help.
2. Take advantage of the tools the school makes available to you, such as Academic Support.
3. Take some time for yourself. You cannot be successful if you cannot stay healthy and focused!
4. Don’t let your grades, your classmates, your friends, or your family define who you are. One rough class or one low exam grade does not define the kind of person you are or the kind of lawyer you will be. Stay true to yourself.
5. Enjoy it! No, not everything is fun in law school – you will hate your memos and stress over classes and exams - but overall, enjoy what you do!
Now it’s study time!
11/16/11 - Now that we are at the end of the semester and finals are here, I am almost sick. I have loved every minute of my classes, but the real test will be the final exams. Then we get to wait forever for our grades!
There are some things I am going to do differently next semester...
I waited until halfway through the semester before I started my outlines, so now I feel the time crunch in trying to finish them. Next semester, I will have a basic outline started before my first class. I can then take notes on my outline and clean it up every weekend. I think that will alleviate some of my stress around finals.
I am also going to be more disciplined in my reading schedule. I tried to read some at night so I would have the weekends with my kids, but found myself falling asleep during my reading. Waiting until the weekend to do all my reading and homework just piled too much on those two days. I think I will spend more of my lunch hours doing some of my reading, and I also think I will take a few more days off from work. It truly is difficult to fit everything in with work and family, but it can be done.
My goal for this week is to just get through finals and be back next semester!
11/9/11 - We are down to the last two weeks of the semester and I am actually kind of sad. It’s a major milestone – the end of my very first semester of law school. It took so long for me to get to law school, but just a blink of an eye to get to the end of my first semester. I finally feel as though I have a handle on my projects and studying - it only took me the entire first semester to get here!
Thanksgiving break is around the corner, then finals. I am not scared or nervous anymore, nor am I stressed over this. Sure, it’s the ONLY grade we get in Torts and Criminal Law. Sure, I worry about passing. But everything I have done this entire semester has led me to this point. Failing is not an option for me. This too shall pass and be all but a memory.
The thought of getting home by 6:30 PM every night and watching television, or eating dinner with my kids, or just doing nothing is almost overwhelming. What will I do with all of my spare time? I’m sure I can find something to do – I guess my boss can go back to working me overtime!
My goal for this week is to finish my memo and be ready to turn it in early.
11/2/11 - This weekend was very exhausting, but we had such a blast! As I said in my earlier blog, my son turned 17 on Saturday. My family came out for burgers and hot dogs and to surprise my son with...wait for it…A NEW CAR! Well, a used car anyway. He was so ecstatic and did not expect it at all! He took turns driving everyone around the neighborhood and to the store. It was an absolute joy to see him so happy when I have barely been around these past few months. Up next is my daughter’s sweet 16th birthday on November 14th. I’m still trying to figure out what to get her this year.
I’m not sure if my fellow bloggers feel the same way or not, but I am truly amazed at how quickly this semester flew by. There are only a few more classes left before we take our final exams. It seems like only yesterday I was blogging about starting my first week, and soon I’ll be blogging about my last week of my first semester.
Everyone is working on memo 2 this week and I feel like I am behind. I asked for a couple of days off from work, and I am hoping to get the first draft and a second draft completed this weekend. I’ll end this blog with that goal in mind – complete a couple of drafts of my memo by Sunday!
10/26/11 - It’s hard to believe that we are close to the end of the first semester. On one hand, I feel very relieved; on the other, I feel very strazzled. That’s my new word! It’s a combination of stressed and frazzled. Yep – that is what I am.
I was a little disappointed in the results of my Torts practice exam, and I certainly hope I do better on the actual final exam. I have a Criminal Law practice exam this week. I am so looking forward to Thanksgiving Break. There are too many meetings this week at work, and too many meetings at school. Sometimes I wonder how everyone keeps their sanity! I know that I am rambling, but my thoughts are in so many places and I am just trying to get them out!
My son turns 17 on Saturday, October 29th. Cleburne’s marching band made it to area finals, so he and my daughter will be in competition on Saturday. I am taking them to their first haunted house this year on Sunday. It will be a great weekend! I will have to post in the next blog what his BIG present is because he actually reads my blogs!
I think this week’s goal should be to take everything one day at a time. I get so worried about what is coming up in the future that I forget to concentrate on what is happening now. I need to focus on the NOW.
10/19/11 - In some aspects, being a 1L is much harder than I thought it would be. It is fun and exciting, but very stressful! I am having a difficult time juggling school, work, and my family. I know I can successfully do this as others have before me, but sometimes I wonder how in the heck they did it!
We took our Torts practice exam last week and apparently none of us did very well. Thank goodness it was only practice! Now I am more worried about my final, which is right around the corner. We just canceled our Thanksgiving trip, which is really going to disappoint a lot of people. I think we can still go, but my husband feels I need to dedicate that time to studying. If I don’t know the material 4 days before the final, how am I going to pass?! I plan on reviewing my notes and the material, but it seems like there is no reason why we can’t go to Thanksgiving. I guess it’s probably smarter to stay home and study anyway. Who knows how stressed I will be by then?!
I need to find a new word for “stress.” I feel like it has become my “word” – the one that gets used way too much in a sentence. My 15 year-old daughter’s word is “like.” Trying to break her of that! Guess I’ll have to break myself from using the word “stress”! Sounds like this week’s new goal.
10/12/11 – Hell week is finally over! Well, as far as our first memo goes anyway. I do not think any of my classmates actually slept this week, including me. There was a collective sigh of relief at the end of this week.
Criminal Law is really starting to get fun for me. We are learning about murder, which seems to be really interesting. It’s nothing like television! This week’s project is to decide what jury instructions you would want as a defense attorney and what arguments you would make against them as a prosecutor. I can’t wait to present these in class.
We are taking practice final exams to help us prepare for our actual finals, which can only be beneficial. I think everyone should take the practice exams, since law school finals are very different than any finals you take in undergrad.
Every week I think I am more stressed out than the week before. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving Break, even though finals are right after that!
My goal this week is to catch up on my reading in all of my classes, hopefully getting a little ahead as well. I fell behind with the memo being due.
10/5/11 - I’m not really sure what to write about this week, so if I ramble, please forgive me. I received an email from an upperclassman (though she may have already graduated) with a suggestion that may help with my kids’ grades and spending time with them. Thank you, Carol, for the suggestion. We implemented it over the weekend, and things seemed to go much more smoothly for all of us. Long-term results will be the true test.
Our chickens have started laying more now that the weather is cooler. They are laying about a dozen eggs a day. I have eggs coming out of my ears! I need to start selling them. Might as well make them pay for their own feed!
I was a little disappointed with my first draft of my memo in Legal Writing. Writing has always been a strong point for me, but legal writing is very different. I will have to work harder on my next memo. It’s very overwhelming and I feel lost at this point. I understand how my memo should look and have an idea of what it should say, but putting it on paper is proving to be a daunting task.
Wrapping up this week, my goal is to improve my legal writing skills. We’ll see what my next memo grade looks like!
9/29/11 - Now that we are halfway through our first semester, I think it may be time for you to learn some more about me. I am married and have two kids. My son is 16 and my daughter is 15. I was a single mom for 5 years going to night school to get my Associate’s degree in paralegal studies. I went back to school for my Bachelor’s degree (at night), and I am once again going to school at night for my JD.
I met my soulmate while working at a law firm in Bedford, Texas. Our first date was spent taking my kids, who were then 4 and 5, bowling. It was the first time I had ever taken my kids with me on a date, much less to meet someone I barely knew. It just seemed natural though. Here we are, 10 ½ years later, and we are still together.
My dream has always been to be a lawyer, but I took many turns along the way. I was a volunteer firefighter for several years, and I even graduated the fire academy in 1994. I was a jewelry salesman for a while and also worked at a sporting goods store for a couple of days. I managed a couple of businesses with my mother as well. But in the end, I came back to the law.
Wrapping up this week’s blog, I have to say I am spending more time with my family, which is good for all of us. My goal this week is to get more rest and take better care of myself. I need some “me” time!
9/21/11 - Time goes by so quickly when you are busy! It’s hard to believe we are halfway through September and halfway through our first semester of law school. Halloween is right around the corner – for me this means birthdays for both of my kids, Thanksgiving travel, and then finals. I’m not sure right now if I am coming or going!
Work is going great, although we still haven’t hired a new legal assistant yet. Interviews are this week, so hopefully I will have a new co-worker soon.
My kids are a different story. They are both getting academic awards next week for the 2010 – 2011 school year. I am so proud of them! Fast forward to this year and they are doing terribly! What’s up with that? My daughter is a sophomore and my son is a junior. I’m sure they are tired of school and that is probably normal, but their grades have dropped significantly. I really hope it isn’t because I am in school and not at home with them every day. I plan on sitting down with them this weekend and having a heart to heart. We have to get to the bottom of these grades. It’s only their first six weeks! Maybe they feel I need additional challenges in my life. News flash guys – I have plenty!
My goal this week is to help my kids get back on track. If I can do this, I know they can do it!
9/14/11 - I have managed to make it an entire month in law school and I am still here! Even though I do feel a little overwhelmed towards the end of each week, I feel that I really belong here. In my personal life I am very reserved. I’m not so much an introvert, but I’m not an extrovert either. I think I am a combination.
I feel like I am a different person now that I am in school, a good “different.” I don’t have a cocky or holier-than-though attitude, but I’m much more confident in myself and willing to speak to total strangers without feeling self-conscious. My husband feels I am more assertive and concise with thoughts. My legal writing professor would be proud. Now if I can just stop using the passive voice in my writing!
I think the “honeymoon” phase of school is over. Not to say that the first four weeks were a breeze, but it seems as though the assignments are piling up. Time management is critical at this point and time is not something I have in abundance! Call me strange, but I am still excited about being here!
My new goal is to try and work out a better schedule that will meet the needs of my family and the demands of my classes. I seem to be failing with my family. I promise to set aside some time on the weekends to have fun with my kids – even if it is for just an hour or two.
9/7/11 - Our first holiday was this past weekend. We were off Monday for Labor Day! It was such a relief to have that extra day off from work and school, although I still did homework! I’m really starting to feel the pressure from working and going to school.
We are getting loaded down with assignments in Legal Writing. We have now entered the citation zone. My first real ICW (interactive citation workbook) assignment did not go very well. Apparently, the computer likes to put a space at the end of your text before the ending format mark for your italics. What in the world does this mean? It means my answer was wrong – even though it was correct! The computer counted it wrong. I am so frustrated!
Moving on to Criminal Law, my group is on call this Thursday. I realized, and one of my classmates stated this last week, that you can answer every question the Professor asks everyone else, but the second she calls your name, you freeze. I’ll be so glad when Friday gets here!
I have decided this week that I am going to end each of my blogs with a goal. My goal for the week will be to make it through Thursday’s Criminal Law class without looking like too much of a bumbling idiot. I’ll update you next week on my success (or failure).
8/31/11- Today’s blog is all about STRESS!
Stress factor 1: I came across something in Criminal Law that I did not understand, so I was a little frustrated. Now I have to try and work out a time to meet with the professor, since I cannot make her office hours. Of course, she is willing to work with me, which helps alleviate some stress.
Stress Factor 2: My family was planning a trip to Schlitterbahn (a local water park) for Labor Day weekend, so I attempted to fit in two weeks worth of homework and reading into two days. We were so excited about the trip until we found out it is suppose to rain the entire weekend! I’m happy we have rain in the forecast, but this has just not been my year (other than getting accepted of course). Now the trip is off, kids are disappointed, and hubby is happy that we are saving money. At least I am well prepared for the next two weeks!
Stress Factor 3: Student Bar Association elections are this week and I am running for 1L Representative.
Stress Factor 4: Monday morning, my co-worker exclaims that she put in her notice and will only be here one more week. There are two paralegals for four attorneys and I am one of them. I am also the in-house IT person, office administrator, copy repairman – the list goes on. As if I really need more to do.
Deep breath Ronda – it will be fine. Funny thing is, I am still excited about being in law school!
8/24/11 - Here we are, it’s the second week of school and it’s my very first blog. I am very excited about blogging, and I hope you find my entries informative and entertaining. Now, let’s get down to business.
The first week of school was not as bad as I thought it would be. The best advice that I can give you is to listen to all of the advice you get before you start law school and actually follow it. You WILL miss sleep. You WILL be nervous. You WILL be excited. You WILL be called on at some point in time. You DO need to make time for your family and friends, and for yourself. Be prepared for class. Just remember though - you made this choice.
I say that, because what I was unprepared for in the first week was the emotional turmoil I felt when I realized my family was not sitting at home during my first night of class, anxiously awaiting my return. On the contrary, my husband and children were off enjoying a dinner at Applebee’s without me! Not just once, but twice that first week! The summer was spent cutting back and saving money, and for what? So they could have fun the second I’m gone?! I was so jealous that I have to admit I cried on my way home.
I did make this choice, and my family supports me in that choice. I have the greatest family in the world and I am very lucky. I no longer cry when my husband says they are going out to dinner. Now I say, “Bring me back something!” My husband, in turn, makes it a point to take me to dinner sometimes now too. Hey – when momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!