Wise Words about Finals

Professor of Contracts wrote two pieces of advice about finals on the whiteboard the other day.

20 years from now…
1. If the best thing you can say about your life is that you got top grades in law school, then that's pathetic.
2. If the worst thing you can say about your life is that you did not get top grades in law school, you will be blessed.

I have spent the weekend mentally preparing myself for the next three weeks. This week is the last week of classes, which is really just a review class for most, and then studying very intensely for finals. After next week there are two weeks of finals spaced two days apart from each other.

How do I prepare you ask?

I watch Kung Fu Panda. Po gives me the inspiration that if a fat panda can become a kung fu master by understanding the secret ingredient, which is actually nothing but being himself (i.e. being motivated by food to become a kung fu master), then it gives me hope that this fat panda (law student) can aspire to become a kung fu master (pass law school exams) by being himself (sitting for long hours staring at a computer screen and stuffing his brain with the food of life that is Civ Pro, Con Law, Contracts and Torts)

Okay, I also studied over the weekend, but the real work begins tomorrow.

I would send telepathic messages to my colleague tomorrow at 8:30 am if I knew anything about Crim Law, but since I do not, I can only wish him good luck.

Lay Down the Law!

Come On Down

I had a good Turkey Day, thanks, how about you? Pie, mashed taters, cranberries, gravy, etc. It was exquisite.

Monday, December 1st is the big day. Final exam numero uno at 8:30 am. Earth shattering glory or knuckle dragging defeat awaits.

A fellow 1L e-mailed our entire Crim Law class today. The e-mail was not sent for the purposes of wishing everyone good luck. In his message, the gentleman respectfully asked all of us to leave him the hell alone after the final. He doesn't want to compare answers with us. He has no desire to figure out if he covered everything in his essay responses. He has one simple wish: to live in ignorant bliss until grades are released in January. I think that if someone forgets his request after the final exam tomorrow, there will be fisticuffs.

In a surprise move, I've been staying away from the law school and studying at home. For my next final on Thursday, however, I may return to the law library for one day of mega Torts flash card heaven.

Don't wish me good luck for my final tomorrow. It will accomplish less than nothing. Instead, if you would, make yourself useful and send me the answers via mental telepathy starting at 8:30 am. I'll be ready and waiting.

Power to the people.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

And so, studying for finals continues. My first final in Crim Law is on Monday morning. I have no idea if I'm going to be ready for it. That's just 1L fear talking.

I'm taking a short break at the law school and looking out the window. I can see three birds, sparrow-like, digging holes in some bark chips behind a bush. This bird watching, this ornithological observation, is imminently more interesting than what I should be doing right now.

In addition, if the bird watching isn't enough, Ziggy Marley's "Love is my religion" is stuck in my head:

"Love is my religion, Love is my religion, Love is my religion

hey you can take it or leave it, and you don't have to believe it"

At this moment in time, in this place, I am adrift. Hey, two of the birds just returned to dig some more holes. I have to go and observe them. I'll catch up with you later.

Power to the people.

Library Love

All law students have their favorite spot in the law library. Some prefer a dark corner cubicle, far from the distraction of human interaction. Others like to sit near the entrance, always on the lookout for a chance to take a study break and socialize. I've found my own personal law library Nirvana; it's near the entrance at a 6 person table with 3 lamps. However, I minimize my study breaks and ward off would be socializers with headphones, lovely Pandora, and a slightly curled upper lip that clearly says "Before you start talking to me, don't. I don't like you."

I'm studying for finals, outlining for finals, attending review sessions for finals, dreaming of finals. I have two stupid days of class remaining, and I'll attend, but I really just want to prepare for finals all day, every day. I may even dress up for finals, tie and all, because if you don't look good for finals, well, finals won't have a good first impression of you.

If you need to find me sometime in the next 2 weeks, except for Turkey Day, look for me in the law library. I'll be at the 6 person table with 3 lamps, right near the entrance. Don't talk to me, however, because I don't like you. Well, okay, I do like you but let's save our pointless, social hour, study break conversation for Winter break. Thank you for your understanding. And by the way, shouldn't you be studying for finals too, you slacker?

Power to the people.

Don't Attempt to Steal a One L's Laptop

This sums up what I've envisioned myself doing in this situation.

http://www.switched.com/2008/11/14/why-you-should-never-try-to-steal-a-law-students-laptop/?rss

Lay Down the Law!

PS. Someone yelled at another person in the library that they could hear music emanating (they did not say emanating) from their earphones. I take this as the start of finals hell that turns otherwise friendly people into man-eating goblins.

Two Turntables

Imagine Record 1 is a classic Al Green album. Buttery smooth, sultry, passionate minister turned electrifying soulphonic groove master, preaching from the pulpit of love, sex, and life-affirming joy set to the sophisticated stylings of a down and dirty rhythm section.

Today was my last day of Torts until January. Euphoria. We're ending a week early because Professor Torts is going out of the country next week for a conference. I got called on in class today and did okay. I was halfway expecting it. My case was pretty straight forward and Professor Torts didn't grill me for an extended period of time. My open memo is due at noon on Monday and our final LRW class is on Tuesday. Relief. I have a full draft ready to be revised and edited. I met with Professor LRW today to make sure the structure of my open memo was on point and to ask a few final questions. Theoretically, this will be my best LRW work product of the semester.

Imagine Record 2 is a classic Ozomatli album. Frenetic, spinning, lyrical, no chance to breathe, giddy laughter, California hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, merengue with a twist, boom-bap percussion, a killer brass section, and a beat that won't let you sit still, ever.

Finals begin December 1. Take a long, deep breath and exhale. I've started to outline a little bit, to review class notes, to take stock of my strengths and weaknesses by class and to assess gaps in my overall subject matter knowledge. By the time I sit for my first final, will I be ready? Not just ready but truly prepared? And of course, there's no rest for the weary. Crim Law is followed by Torts which is followed by Contracts which is followed by Civ Pro. I have a lot of work to do between now and then but I'm starting to wear down. No excuses, however.

Mix Record 1 and Record 2. Scratch. Fade. Loop. Repeat. Sometimes it sounds so good. Sometimes it's just headache inducing noise that I can't dance to.

Power to the people.

Gary Poppins

Winter has pretty much hit the Northwest - constant rain and a good dose of wind to make an umbrella useless, but I don’t mind. It makes the long hours sitting indoors, slaving away more bearable. At least I don’t have to think about what I could be doing outside.

Life has consisted of class, outlining and study sessions. Oh, I also signed up for the bar exam in 2011. Can you believe it! I’m actually assuming that I will survive the next three years and then have the energy to study for two more months right after graduation and take a test to determine whether or not $100,000 of debt was actually worth it. They got me on the “lock in the price” spiel. I’m told I’ll save $700 by signing up now and putting down a small (it was actually very little) deposit. Plus, I get access to even more study guides and online resources. I wonder how many study guides it will take to make me smart?

Lay Down the Law!

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

This one time when I was living in D.C., I got a call at work from a Seattle TV news station. They asked me for the address of the White House. I guessed 1400 Penn. Ave. I was wrong. I now believe it was a prank call. I still can't understand how I got that question wrong. And I still don't know who pranked me.

I went home after class yesterday and didn't do a drop of homework. Instead, I watched the election returns on ABC News. George Stephanopoulos is still a hottie after all these years. If President-Elect Obama asked Mr. Stephanopoulos to join his administration, that would be one hottie administration.

Congratulations to President-Elect Obama and Vice-President Elect Biden. Senator McCain and Governor Palin, it's been real. President Bush, don't let the door hit you on your way out of town.

Back to homework. GObama. I can't wait until January 20, 2009.

Power to the people.