1L's are Funny

I remember this time last year. First semester of first year, I didn't do well at all. I kind of lost confidence and felt crappy all the time. So second semester, I applied myself slightly harder, to marginal improvement. But one thing that I definitely do remember is that finals week of first year was one of the worst weeks of my life. Thank god that's over.

This year hasn't nearly been as bad. But one thing that I've secretly enjoyed is watching all of the 1L's freaking out again about finals. Those who bombed first semester thinking their lives depend on doing well this semester. Others hoping their grades don't tank. It sounds mean, but it's a guilty pleasure seeing them suffer the way I did last year. Right of passage, we all went through it.

On the other end of the spectrum, it's also really fun watching the 3L's who just don't give a crap anymore. In Banking law, a bunch of 3L's asked the professor questions regarding the final. They all started with, "For those of us taking this class pass/fail..." followed by giggles and snickers. Combine that with the planned week of "disorientation" that they have planned, it sounds like a pretty sweet place to be. After all, after all the years of hard work and torture, they have an opportunity to celebrate.

Which leaves me and my 2L classmates stuck somewhere in the middle. We're not as stressed as the 1L's, we're not as carefree as the 3L's. "Clowns to the left of me, joker's to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you."

Last year, I spent most of my time studying either at the law library (see posts from last year), or at home. This year, I've discovered the Cafe circuit. These places are usually more conducive to studying. More relaxing than the library, less distracting than home. I'm sitting here at Chocolatte cafe, drinking my iced coffee, avoiding thoughts of the copious amounts of reading that lie ahead.

So yesterday, I had to go down to the Fed building to hand in some papers for a background check and get fingerprinted. I have to say, that was my first time being fingerprinted. Wasn't like it was on TV with the ink and papers. It's totally high tech now. I had to put my hand on a digital scanner that made my prints appear on a computer screen which captured them. Then each finger individually. So now my prints are on file, and I'm no longer free to committ crimes without wearing gloves. Damn.

66.6% done

So finals are next week. I remember almost exactly a year ago, during finals time second semester, it really was the most stressful week of my life. I can't remember a time I felt more horrid, stressed, scared, and annoyed with life than that time last year. But that was a year ago. This year, I'm actually not too worried about finals.

Class wise, this year was pretty awsome. First semester, I liked my classes (with the exception of evidence, which I thought was pretty boring). Islamic Law, International Law, and Real Estate were great. Second semester, classes havn't been as wonderful, but still better than first year. Admin I'm taking pass fail, so not much stress. Banking I love for some reason, BA is pretty redundant from undergrad, and Religion and State was great. So not nearly as much stress when you're studying stuff you're interested in.

I can't believe law school is almost 2/3rds of the way done. It seems like only yesterday I was paralegalling and getting ready to start a new life. So much has happened over the past 2 years it's insane. Feels like an entirely different chapter in my life.

So, this summer I'll be down here in Atlanta again. I'll be working as a Goblin at Gringott's bank (see previous post). I got an offer from the Fed to be a summer intern at the General Counsel's Office. This is awsome, it's totally the type of law I'm interested in doing. Hopefully it'll work out nicely.