Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Evaluating...
Only three more weeks of this semester left. I can't wait! I'm sure I'll be working at a law office during Christmas break, but at least I'll have the evenings and weekends all to myself and not have to worry about doing homework or writing papers or studying.
It will be a huge sigh of relief to get me ready for my final semester of law school. And then LIFE. I've never been more excited to work full time. I'll have my own income. MY income. That doesn't come from a government student loan.
I have so many ideas about what I want to do. I feel like law school has been this really odd prison of sorts. I have to do my time to be able to live free.
There have been good things about law school.
1. At my first school (I tranferred the end of my 1L year), I made a beautiful group of friends. I really miss them. Dawn, Erica, Mike, Melissa, Travis, Penny, and Stephen. Also Minnellis (who I had been friends with in undergrad first. Minnellis is my Puerto Rican sister). I feel like I had more time to socialize there and to make good friendships.
2. At this current school, I've made friends as well. But I don't feel like it's the same as it was before. I don't know if it was the transfer putting me into an already established social atmostphere or what. But I have made friends here. Amy, Meredith, Hannah (who just got engaged! whoot whoot!), Clennon (who I was already friends with from undergrad), Kerri, Anna, Kasia, Roman (and his adorable wife Heather), and others. But I still really miss my first law school friends (especially Dawn). I don't know why the atmosphere here is so different and less conducive to social relationships here. It doesn't really make sense.
3. Another good thing about law school is that it has forced me to think and learn in a completely different way. I think logically and in compartments. I always have to an extent, but I'm more of a list person now than I ever was.
4. Law school has also taught me how to communicate more effectively. I think about how my sentences are structured and what my words mean before I even say them.
5. I've learned to make better arguments without "arguing." I guess that would go under the communication as well.
6. Law school has made me realize so much about myself. I think I know who I am now and know what I want and like more. Sure, there are huge areas in my life where I have no idea what is going to happen, but I'm learning to not worry and stress about it. Things will fall in place and happen when they are supposed to happen.
7. I've learned to appreciate my family so much more. When I hardly ever get to see them, the time that I do have with them is so much more precious that I could ever have imagined it being before.
8. I'm much less emotional than I was before law school. I haven't decided if that's a good thing or not. I guess it's a good thing that I am more able to keep my composure, but I don't think that it's a good thing that I often feel "cold" or "indifferent" about so much. I'll need to work on finding a good balance.
9. I've become more opinionated about many things, but I've also learned to keep many of my opinions to myself. I've learned to be more "tactful," I guess.
10. I've learned that I am naturally a restless person with an old soul. I don't know how that's going to work into my future life, but I'll just have to wait and see.
Although I consider law school overall to have been a highly negative experience, I can definitely see the good that is coming from it.
If I think of anything else, I will definitely have to add it to the list later.
It will be a huge sigh of relief to get me ready for my final semester of law school. And then LIFE. I've never been more excited to work full time. I'll have my own income. MY income. That doesn't come from a government student loan.
I have so many ideas about what I want to do. I feel like law school has been this really odd prison of sorts. I have to do my time to be able to live free.
There have been good things about law school.
1. At my first school (I tranferred the end of my 1L year), I made a beautiful group of friends. I really miss them. Dawn, Erica, Mike, Melissa, Travis, Penny, and Stephen. Also Minnellis (who I had been friends with in undergrad first. Minnellis is my Puerto Rican sister). I feel like I had more time to socialize there and to make good friendships.
2. At this current school, I've made friends as well. But I don't feel like it's the same as it was before. I don't know if it was the transfer putting me into an already established social atmostphere or what. But I have made friends here. Amy, Meredith, Hannah (who just got engaged! whoot whoot!), Clennon (who I was already friends with from undergrad), Kerri, Anna, Kasia, Roman (and his adorable wife Heather), and others. But I still really miss my first law school friends (especially Dawn). I don't know why the atmosphere here is so different and less conducive to social relationships here. It doesn't really make sense.
3. Another good thing about law school is that it has forced me to think and learn in a completely different way. I think logically and in compartments. I always have to an extent, but I'm more of a list person now than I ever was.
4. Law school has also taught me how to communicate more effectively. I think about how my sentences are structured and what my words mean before I even say them.
5. I've learned to make better arguments without "arguing." I guess that would go under the communication as well.
6. Law school has made me realize so much about myself. I think I know who I am now and know what I want and like more. Sure, there are huge areas in my life where I have no idea what is going to happen, but I'm learning to not worry and stress about it. Things will fall in place and happen when they are supposed to happen.
7. I've learned to appreciate my family so much more. When I hardly ever get to see them, the time that I do have with them is so much more precious that I could ever have imagined it being before.
8. I'm much less emotional than I was before law school. I haven't decided if that's a good thing or not. I guess it's a good thing that I am more able to keep my composure, but I don't think that it's a good thing that I often feel "cold" or "indifferent" about so much. I'll need to work on finding a good balance.
9. I've become more opinionated about many things, but I've also learned to keep many of my opinions to myself. I've learned to be more "tactful," I guess.
10. I've learned that I am naturally a restless person with an old soul. I don't know how that's going to work into my future life, but I'll just have to wait and see.
Although I consider law school overall to have been a highly negative experience, I can definitely see the good that is coming from it.
If I think of anything else, I will definitely have to add it to the list later.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
My ranting blog ended up being a "give thanks" blog....
I've been spending some time recently evaluating my life and deciding whether I am happy or not with where I am.
Cons
1. My relationship with my boyfriend is not perfect (but no relationship ever is).
2. I have an enormous amount of student loan debt.
3. I'm fifteen pounds heavier than I want to be.
4. I am unmotivated to do my assignments for school.
5. I'm always tired.
6. I spend way too much time wasting time.
7. I haven't read near as many books as I planned to by this time in my life.
8. I can count my true friends on one hand.
9. I haven't marked anything off my bucket list in a very long time.
10. Law school is killing me softly.
11. Law school makes me feel incompetent and unintelligent.
12. I really feel like I'm stuck in the same place while everyone around me continues to move forward. I've felt this way off and on for a very long time.
13. I struggle with depression.
Pros
1. I have a boyfriend, and he loves me and is willing to work hard to fix our problems.
2. I have a job for the year following graduation.
3. I am not obese, and I have no food allergies, so I truly enjoy the food I eat.
4. I only have 3.5 weeks left of this semester.
5. I have a wonderful family that loves me and supports me in any way that I need.
6. I have true friends to count.
7. I have my senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
8. I wasn't killed in that car wreck in 2008.
9. Even though I struggle with depression, I have people that I can talk to about it, and depression will not drag me down.
10. I only have 6 months left of law school.
11. I am only as unhappy and dissatisfied as I choose to be ("I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." - The Apostle Paul)
12. I am intelligent. I am competent. The competitive agressiveness of law school is a pointless crapshoot since high grades doth not a successful person make.
13. I have the ability to be and do anything I want to.
14. Jesus loves me.
The more I write this post, the more I realize that what started as a pity post about how disappointing my life is has become a reality check to myself. I am myself. I am not my circumstances. I am not my surroundings. And I can choose to not allow my circumstances and surroundings to negatively affect me.
This has been a post.
Cons
1. My relationship with my boyfriend is not perfect (but no relationship ever is).
2. I have an enormous amount of student loan debt.
3. I'm fifteen pounds heavier than I want to be.
4. I am unmotivated to do my assignments for school.
5. I'm always tired.
6. I spend way too much time wasting time.
7. I haven't read near as many books as I planned to by this time in my life.
8. I can count my true friends on one hand.
9. I haven't marked anything off my bucket list in a very long time.
10. Law school is killing me softly.
11. Law school makes me feel incompetent and unintelligent.
12. I really feel like I'm stuck in the same place while everyone around me continues to move forward. I've felt this way off and on for a very long time.
13. I struggle with depression.
Pros
1. I have a boyfriend, and he loves me and is willing to work hard to fix our problems.
2. I have a job for the year following graduation.
3. I am not obese, and I have no food allergies, so I truly enjoy the food I eat.
4. I only have 3.5 weeks left of this semester.
5. I have a wonderful family that loves me and supports me in any way that I need.
6. I have true friends to count.
7. I have my senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
8. I wasn't killed in that car wreck in 2008.
9. Even though I struggle with depression, I have people that I can talk to about it, and depression will not drag me down.
10. I only have 6 months left of law school.
11. I am only as unhappy and dissatisfied as I choose to be ("I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." - The Apostle Paul)
12. I am intelligent. I am competent. The competitive agressiveness of law school is a pointless crapshoot since high grades doth not a successful person make.
13. I have the ability to be and do anything I want to.
14. Jesus loves me.
The more I write this post, the more I realize that what started as a pity post about how disappointing my life is has become a reality check to myself. I am myself. I am not my circumstances. I am not my surroundings. And I can choose to not allow my circumstances and surroundings to negatively affect me.
This has been a post.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
NOT hatred, sorrow, discord, provocation, cruelty, meanness, dishonesty, mercilessness, and self-indulgence.
To all of you out there who have experienced the latter list of qualities from anyone who claims to be a “Christian,” I apologize for them. The point of the religion and lifestyle of Christianity is to love. Overflowing, unbridled love. A love that cannot be easily understood.
So, please disregard the “Christians” who do not show this. They are liars and hypocrites and slander the name of the God they claim to honor.
NOT hatred, sorrow, discord, provocation, cruelty, meanness, dishonesty, mercilessness, and self-indulgence.
To all of you out there who have experienced the latter list of qualities from anyone who claims to be a “Christian,” I apologize for them. The point of the religion and lifestyle of Christianity is to love. Overflowing, unbridled love. A love that cannot be easily understood.
So, please disregard the “Christians” who do not show this. They are liars and hypocrites and slander the name of the God they claim to honor.
Monday, November 8, 2010
My Trip to D.C. (Part 2) - The Natural History Museum and more National Mall
After we toured the American History Museum, Hannah and I walked down to the Natural History museum. We were running out of siteseeing time since our ABA meeting was fast approaching. I silently thought to myself that we should just skip the meeting, because I knew I would love the Natural History Museum seeing as I love anything and everything to do with nature and the outdoors.
Anyway, here's some of what we saw.
This is where the Hope Diamond rests. And here it is.
It was a lot smaller than I expected it to be, but still a HUGE diamond.
By this point, we were out of time for the Natural History museum, so we walked back out to the National Mall to get to our metro stop. The National Mall is so lovely to me.
This is part of the Smithsonian Castle. Beautiful.
The Washington Monument.
Me and the US Capitol. :)
Smithsonian Castle and the Washington Monument.
The National Carousel
Looking back at the Natural History Museum.
The Smithsonian Castle. I was seriously in awe of it. I love this type of architecture.
We made it to our meeting on time (a waste of my precious site-seeing time, in my opinion, but it was still nice). All in all, I had a beautiful day and would love to go back to D.C. when I have lots more time to look and look and look some more. It was lovely. :)
Anyway, here's some of what we saw.
This is where the Hope Diamond rests. And here it is.
It was a lot smaller than I expected it to be, but still a HUGE diamond.
By this point, we were out of time for the Natural History museum, so we walked back out to the National Mall to get to our metro stop. The National Mall is so lovely to me.
This is part of the Smithsonian Castle. Beautiful.
The Washington Monument.
Me and the US Capitol. :)
Smithsonian Castle and the Washington Monument.
The National Carousel
Looking back at the Natural History Museum.
The Smithsonian Castle. I was seriously in awe of it. I love this type of architecture.
We made it to our meeting on time (a waste of my precious site-seeing time, in my opinion, but it was still nice). All in all, I had a beautiful day and would love to go back to D.C. when I have lots more time to look and look and look some more. It was lovely. :)
Friday, November 5, 2010
My Trip to D.C. - The National Mall and the American History Museum
I visited Washington, D.C. for the first time on October 27. My friend Hannah and I were going for an American Bar Association Meet-and-Greet that was to take place that evening, and we decided to go up early enough to get in a little siteseeing since I hadn't been there before. Our school is only a few hours from D.C., so we drove up that morning.
It poured down rain the entire drive up. It was very pretty though, driving through Northern Virginia.
Had a little car trouble along the way, but maybe it was just all the water on the road? Who knows. Anyway, we got there, finally found parking in the pouring rain and found the nearest metro stop. I had never ridden a metro before either.
The first thing I saw when we came up out of the metro tunnel was this...
And this....
How lovely are those?? We walked across the National Mall to get to the National Museum of American History which we toured for a couple of hours.
The dress belonged to Michelle Obama. She wore it for the Inaugural Ball.
This dress was worn by Carol Burnette in her skit "Went With the Wind," on the Carol Burnette show. I LOVE that skit, so I was very happy to see this.
And these are THE ruby slippers from the movie, The Wizard of Oz. I was very, very happy.
Then we saw the Julia Child's exhibit. The exhibit recreated Julia Child's kitchen and had many of her kitchen things inside. I watched Julie and Julia last year and sometimes watched Cooking with Julia when I was a kid, so this exhibit was pretty fasinating to me.
I'll continue the rest of the trip in another blog post.
Coming soon: The Natural History Museum and more National Mall
It poured down rain the entire drive up. It was very pretty though, driving through Northern Virginia.
Had a little car trouble along the way, but maybe it was just all the water on the road? Who knows. Anyway, we got there, finally found parking in the pouring rain and found the nearest metro stop. I had never ridden a metro before either.
The first thing I saw when we came up out of the metro tunnel was this...
And this....
How lovely are those?? We walked across the National Mall to get to the National Museum of American History which we toured for a couple of hours.
The dress belonged to Michelle Obama. She wore it for the Inaugural Ball.
This dress was worn by Carol Burnette in her skit "Went With the Wind," on the Carol Burnette show. I LOVE that skit, so I was very happy to see this.
And these are THE ruby slippers from the movie, The Wizard of Oz. I was very, very happy.
Then we saw the Julia Child's exhibit. The exhibit recreated Julia Child's kitchen and had many of her kitchen things inside. I watched Julie and Julia last year and sometimes watched Cooking with Julia when I was a kid, so this exhibit was pretty fasinating to me.
I'll continue the rest of the trip in another blog post.
Coming soon: The Natural History Museum and more National Mall
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