We live in a busy world that doesn’t know how to slow down. People are conditioned to keep moving because if we’re not moving we’re not being productive. If we aren’t being productive, we aren’t adding value to our life. If we aren’t adding value to our life, then what are we really here for?
This is a constant cycle that is amplified when you are a student, whether you are in your early 20’s or late 40’s. Law school is a fast paced environment which is known for pushing students harder than any of type of schooling. We read hundreds of pages a week, write extensive papers, study hard for upcoming midterms and exams, get involved on campus, and try to get as many real world experiences to elevate those resumes and figure out what we want to do with our law degree. It can feel overwhelming. It can feel impossible. But I encourage everyone to take a step back and slow down.
We are only going to go through law school once. We have three years to soak up as much knowledge, experience, and create relationships with those around us. Instead of trying to make law school go by faster, take a step back and see it for what it is. Even though law school is tough, it is hugely beneficial for personal and academic growth. Take the time to go and speak with professors, look into opportunities only given to law students and to hangout with your “law school” friends. After graduation and especially after the Bar, you don’t know where everyone is headed. Some people will move out of state, some people will stay put where they are, so why rush the time you have to spend with those people?
I wish that someone would have told me to slow down. I am a 2L in my second semester and don’t know where the time has gone. I wish in my first year I would have taken the time to build stronger relationships with my professors, joined more on campus organizations, and spent more time with my law school friends. I have consistently been focused on the finish line (the bar exam) and now that it is approaching, I wish I would have savored my first full year for what it was. While I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life, there is something I’ll miss about sitting in a classroom watching my professors teach so passionately the material we need to succeed in our future.
Understand that this experience is like no other. You will not get the same opportunity again, so appreciate every moment. Everyone has their days when they are over school. All we want is to enter into the working world like all of our friends and family instead of waking up for a 9:30 A.M. sales class. But remember, you will be working for the rest of you life. You only get to be a student for so long. Savior your experience, learn what you can, and enjoy the ride.
Student Ambassadors 