Finals, Holidays, Job Searches...Oh My!

Well, it's time for my monthly post, and there is a lot to talk about. I've gone through my first law school finals period, we did all the holiday stuff, and I've been doggedly looking for a summer job. I've suffered, learned, gained weight, wasted time, worked hard, traveled, worried, waffled, pontificated, celebrated, stressed, and on and on and on all in about a month.

First, let's talk about finals. Now, I have been through a real finals period before, despite having gone to an arts conservatory. We did have academic requirements, and a lot of our theater classes had finals or final projects. So, I have experienced all night cram sessions, quadruple shot starbucks machiatos, and intense mental pressure. However, unless you've been to med school, law school, or something similar, you have not done "Finals." I'm not trying to diminish some of the trials and travails other grad level education programs require and this is not the bar exam, but this is something nuts. Let's set you up with some background first, you're in school with the top 1% of the smartest people in the country, you're being graded on a curve which means you're in direct competition with everyone sitting around you(curve means your grade is not based solely on your merits but on how everyone else does), you've had no assessment all semester to tell you where you stand(no graded papers or quizes), and this also means that this test is your only grade for this class period. So, can you see where the pressure may come from?

The process itself seems innocuous enough. Classes end a few days before your first exam so you have time to study, you have a few days in between each exam, and the exams are only about 3 hours long. The reality is much different. Studying for finals starts well before the "reading period" and you can't wait because everyone else is starting early, snatching up important books and practice exams. And a few days before the first exam and between to relearn a whole semester's worth of cases and law, not to mention taking practice exams? Yeah, right. And, lastly, the exams are 3 hours long, and depending on the course and the sadistic difficulty level of the questions, that can either be an eternity or not nearly enough time.

The whole period is kind of a walking nightmare. You start outlining in late November or early December, if you're behind like me.(finals are mid-December) Oulining is basically going back through all of you material from the semester, case briefs, class notes, professor handouts, cases, etc, and synthesizing it into one, small document(small being 30-50 pages, or more). Usually you can bring these into an exam with you, so from the outside most people see it as a kind of cheat sheet. But, in actuality, the outlining process helps you remember and relearn all of the material you covered in the semester. There is so much you read and discuss in law school that it's near to impossible to remember it all from the first pass, so this oulining really helps you get a hold on it. Also, they really aren't cheat sheets because if you're going through a 35-50 page document in only a 3 hour test for each answer, you're in big trouble. The oultine is there in the exam for emergencies only. OK, so everyone is running around trying to outline, scheming on what format will work best for them and give them an edge over everyone else, searching for that really obscure article the prof mentioned about that one thing, racking their notes and brains to find every little tidbit we talked about in class, and then editing and re-editing it all. We're all going through the library archives desperately trying to read and take all the past exams that the specific professor has given. For some reason, we think that these past exams will not only prepare us for the prof's style(which they will) but that they will give a definite clue as to what subject matter and cases will be on the exam(which they won't). And, lastly, we all sit around together discussing the cases, theories, strategies, and mostly bitching about the process and trying to convince eachother of the right way to do it.

It's very important to understand other environmental factors here as well. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is on a steady daily diet of no sleep, 4-6 coffees, or red bulls or mix thereof, cookies(yeah, I don't get it either), and any other crap that we can quickly cram down our gullet in between study sessions. We all cram into either the library, a study room, or coffee house. All of these are either too hot, too cold, too loud, too quiet, too crowded, too empty or too whatever to focus. Not to mention we all have wireless, and the internet is an unavoidable siren of procrastination.

So, you add all of the above together and it creates quite a weird, alien environment, as if law school wasn't different enough compared to everything else I'd ever been through. Then remember that this goes on for 2 and 1/2 weeks. Which brings me to an interesting point, finals is a marathon, well that's what everyone says. I've run a marathon, so I can say that the point is bullshit. Finals is an ultra-marathon through death valley in July. It's really just important to remember that this is not just about the individual exams but getting through all of it.

The exams themselves vary in difficulty, or rather it varies why they're difficult. They are all difficult. Some are mental Everests, except with Everest you know you have to go up and which direction that is, not so here. You just know it's mamoth and you're supposed to do something with it, but you have no idea what. Other exams may not be conceptually that difficult, but there is just so much to write about and so many questions that you can't possibly finish it in time. And then there are the ones that are just so, so simple(well, they seem that way), that you answer the questions quickly then sit there for an hour editing your answers and second/third/fourth/fifth-guessing yourself because it couldn't possibly be that simple, could it?

Overall, I think I did pretty well. There was one exam where I know for a fact that the professor sat down to write it with the theme, "How can I reduce them to confused, unknowing, crying infants in one exam?" But, at least everyone sat up and let out a stream of expletives after reading the first question, and we all promptly ended it by googling all of the business school applications we could. Still, I never felt out of place or completely overmatched, and in the end that's important but so is how I stand up compared to everyone else. I'll know for sure in a couple weeks when I get my grades. I did learn a lot about how I study and what is most helpful to me, after wasting a bunch of time doing it the wrong way. Well, I think I did, I'll know for sure with the grades. I'm pretty glad, and I know Noreen is, that this only happens once every 5 months, and that I don't need the grades to know for sure.

After that was over, and my friends and I spent a good evening being irresponsible to relieve the stress, Noreen and I went to my mother's in Dallas for Christmas. The usual travel crap came up here. We had to make sure the dogs were taken care of, that fell to my brother. He did a pretty good job with some hiccups, but that's to be expected. I'm pretty sure the dogs have deeply held resentment for us going away, though. To get from Boston to Dallas, we had to go from Boston to Providence, RI to Detroit to Dallas. Aaaahhhh, I love modern air travel. The Providence airport is much nicer than when I was in college, and it's only slightly longer to drive there than to take the subway to the Boston ariport. Detroit is pretty freakin cool! It's got it's own tram inside, and it's basically a giant mall with some airplanes parked outside, which is good if you're going to be there for 5 hours like we were. The flights themselves were fine and we didn't have any problems, we even got an earlier flight back without losing any luggage.

Going to my mom's was pretty good. We hadn't been to Dallas in a couple years, and hadn't seen my mom or stepdad since last October(2006). However, when you're used to having your own place, and routine, it's always hard to visit someone else's place. If you're in a hotel it's one thing, and if you have your own means of transportation, but when you, as an adult, become dependent on your parents again for everything, even for just a week, it's pretty frustrating. That's just normal. It was still great to visit with my mom and stepdad, and extended family.

Noreen and I did take one night to ourselves, which was our X-mas present to eachother. We got a hotel room downtown, and went out to a wonderful steak dinner(when in Rome). Downtown Dallas is developing at quite a pace right now. They are building all sorts of entertainment venues, apartments, condos, etc., and clearly trying to attract young people to the city as opposed to the suburbs. It's a good development since there is so much driving in Dallas, and this may cut down on that. Additionally, this may create a central hub in Dallas too, which would be good, it's a fairly spread out city.

After our trip, we just hung out for a week, seeing movies, walking around, spending time together. This whole week just reminded me how lucky I am. Noreen and I are best friends, and with all the business of life it's easy to forget or at least take for granted how much we love just being near eachother. I also got two more suits for work and whatever. I love buying nice clothes, rather, I love having nice clothes. Some guys may not enjoy clothes or wearing a suit, and I tell you that I don't get that whole thing at all. There is nothing better than getting all dressed up and going to dinner or something. And when you're at a business meeting, nothing makes you feel more confident than well-tailored, good looking clothes. Ok, where did that come from?

Oh, there was that little New Year's thing. Well, this year, we definitely did the old, adult thing. For the past 3 or 4 years, we've always gone to our friend's party in NYC. Well, this year because of money and the diaspora of a lot of friends from NYC, we decided to stay in Boston. So, we got together with a few law school friends, cooked a really good roast beef dinner, played board games, and watched the ball drop. I gotta say, the parties were fun, but this was a really great night, one of the best in a while for New Year's. I guess I am getting older.

Luckily, Noreen continued here internship at the school this past week. I say luckily because it prompted me to get off my butt and start doing some work that I had to get done. I started prepping for the next semester, getting admin stuff in order, storing away last semester's stuff, buying books, calendar prepping, and some reading. I also started the second phase of my summer job search. The first phase was the firm thing that I wrote about before. I've received more rejection letters but only about fifty percent, so I followed up with some of them and it's in a holding pattern for the time being. I started researching and applying to other positions, primarily doing public interest work. There are some pretty exciting options out there, hopefully I'll have an opportunity to interview with some of them. It's a little unnerving to have to deal with this and school, but I'm much more calm about it than before. I've just got to keep plugging away at it, trusting that the right job will come, and the money thing will work itself out.

School starts tomorrow, and classes on Tuesday. I'll be right in the thick of it right away. I've got a major project immediately, Moot Court. I've got some deadlines for fellowship applications pretty soon. And, the negotiations competition starts up in about a week for nationals. Plus, I've got regular class prep to do. Should be fun.

Oh, and Go Pats! Did you see Tom Brady last night, amazing! 26 of 28, unreal.

28 and counting

Ah, another birthday. Time to take stock. I'm 28 and I'm in school, in debt, and living in a rented apartment in Boston. Hmmmmm, sounds a lot like 19-21. But, it's LAW school, which will help pay off all that debt, and I'm living in that apartment with my wonderful wife and two dogs after coming back to Boston. Can't really complain at all, in fact, I can cheer about it. If I weren't studying for finals, I would actually feel like jumping up and down about it. Also, I'm healthy, have enough to eat, and have some very nice things, then there's all that potential alluded to before including Noreen's after just finishing her masters. It is a good life!

On another note, I sent out about 100 e-mails applying to big law firms for the summer, on Friday night. As of 9:30 this morning, I already have 3 rejection notices. I love efficiency! It's not a big deal, these applications are a long shot, like 1% chance long shot, or less. It's almost a fun thing to go through, like a collective bonding of suffering kind of thing.

Gotta go, to realize all that potential, I have to go lock myself in a room and cram a whole bunch of information into my brain over the next 3 weeks. I'll talk to you all on the other side. Be well!

Hip, Hip, LA!!! And, er, thanks.

So, I've done it. Reached a life long dream. I am a national competitor. And not just in a cereal box top collection thing, not mega millions, and not publisher's clearing house. But, a real, honest-to-god competition requiring my own effort and brain power.

OK, so it's not exactly up there with getting married, running a marathon, being a lawyer, or having kids, but still it's cool.

Anyway, I have been participating in the ABA Negotiations competition, in which a partner and myself have mock negotiations with other teams. It's cool b/c it'a practical application of some of the stuff I slave over day in and day out. Also, it's what an attorney spends much of his time doing no matter what you do.

My partner and I competed in the New England regional competition two weeks ago. We placed 3rd which was great(no one from BU had done it in 7 years), and we thought that was the end of the line. Honestly, we were a little relieved; it was a lot of extra work and we have finals coming up among other things like, well...life.

Yesterday, the ABA contacted the school and invited us to the national competition in LA. No explanation, no indication, just show up, you're in. And, we are going, the school pays for it, and it's in February, so finals will be over and the new semester will be nascent.

It is exciting. My partner is psyched, my family is psyched, Noreen is kind of psyched(she understandably wants to go), but I'm not really feeling psyched. Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased about the opportunity, and it will look really good on my resume when I apply to jobs in...eep...2 weeks and continuing. But, it's just not there. I don't know, maybe it's because I know we didn't earn it fair and square(winning regionals), maybe because it's more work, or , the theory I prefer, I'm just so overloaded and focused on exams that I can't realistically enjoy it. It really does seem to be that. I'm so focused on reading, processing, reviewing, planning, organizing, etc that I don't have time or emotional space to enjoy. I know that sounds like a weird thing. If anything, that should relieve some of it. And still...

To be sure, I am not in a state of woe over this. In fact, after Dec. 20, this is probably something I will be greatly looking forward to. Let's call it a deferred enjoyment of the moment.

Onward, Noreen and I are "Doing" Thanksgiving for our families this year(sans my mom and stepdad, who we'll be with at X-mas). Yep, my first turkey, and I'm cooking it all, except the pies(I don't bake). That will be a nice break actually, and I am looking forward to the respite. I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Thanksgiving! We've got a lot, and hey, I've got you. Thanks.

Whoa, whoa, I need off this snowball

So, after a month and a half of being very busy, but being able to manage it, law school is starting to get out of control. It's all part of the process I guess, we're getting more and more reading, we're starting to outline for finals(in December), trying to review the massive amounts we've been through to keep it fresh in our mind, getting assigned research projects, summer job searches, and so on. I just pulled my first really long day, working after 11 PM, and fatigue hits me at weird times. Of course, there are outside influences, I mean how can I not pay attention to the Patriots and the Sox right now. To even suggest such a thing displays that you've never been to Boston. Also, trying to spend time with Noreen, the dogs, keep running, clean the house, cook, etc. is definitely piling it all on. Ah, stress, my old friend. Haven't had it like this for awhile. It's kind of like meeting up with an old friend, except the the whole reminiscing, smiling, hugging, good, warm feeling thing. Ok, so maybe it's like meeting up with your worst enemy after a few years, it's still familiar.

Anyway, I'll be ok. It is fun, kind of like a game, which is how I saw it back when I was at the peak of my time management challenges in college or New York. Also, I get great satisfaction out of it, I've always perversely thrived off of stress, like an adrenaline junky off of near death. Finishing that brief at 11:30, editing your paper in 10 minutes, squeezing in 6 hours of sleep, then running to class can be fairly exhilirating, until of course you snap b/c you forgot your book for class.

Also, I'm participating in the American Bar Association's Negotiation competition. My partner and I, along with another team, won the BU intra-school competition. Now we're on to regionals. It's pretty cool, I get to play like a real lawyer. The topic is family law, so it's a little bit messy, especially when you end up on the side of a "difficult client," define that as you will. Still the strategy sessions and real time confrontational gaming is pretty cool, like a really contentious, high stakes, chess match. It's pretty amazing to get in there and watch all of your preparation go down the drain simply because the other side has a different position, then to fly by the seat of your pants trying to get the best possible settlement. However, don't worry, I am not even remotely considering becoming a divorce lawyer.

I'm still running, but like I said it's becoming more challenging trying to fit it in. It's a deal breaker though, I have to have it, so I find a way no matter what.

Oh, and living almost entirely off student loans is presenting its own challenges, which were to be expected. I think we're doing ok though. We're not subsisting off ramen and bologna just yet.

One last thing, go Sox!

Law School!

Yay! It's finally here. Umm, this is gonna be short, cuz well, I'm in my first year of law school. It's been an interesting week. Last week was "orientation," which basically means here's the books, here's the school, go out and meet eachother 5 nights in a row, and give me $800 for your books. Yeah, it's as draining as you might think, especially the last part! Oh, I almost forgot the best part, "we know you're not in classes yet but here's a boatload of homework, happy Labor Day." Yeah, that last one taught me about a legal sense of timing and that lawyers don't necessarily get days off, first lesson.

I have a locker, yep I have a locker. I have a section, 90 people that I see all day, every day. Oh, we stay in the same room all day, but sometimes we switch seats. Makes it more interesting. So, it's a lot like high school, except this time I don't know most of the answers and I actually did my homework, go figure.

The books are heavy and the reading is dense. But, I'm not lost or overwhelmed, yet, so that's good. Obviously a lot is new, but a couple things are especially new. In acting school, I had a journal, here I have a laptop and I type my notes. That takes some getting used to. In high school, you pass notes, here you IM :-) In all school(well maybe not acting school), you raise your hand, here the professor raises your hand for you...the whole class period...just you...yep that's how it goes; sounds fun, right?

I am learning a lot, a lot, and it's only the second day. I'm very engaged, and I can't wait to do my assignments or get to class. I know, I'm a big dork and we'll see how long this lasts. Hope all are well. I have to go edit some sentences(writing class) and study principles of punishment(dog training...er criminal law).

Ouch!

Just ran 12 miles for the first time in awhile. Ugh, the couch is calling. I need to get back into a regular running schedule. I'm off to find the Ben-Gay.

Oh boy, I've really been away.

Okay, the public flogging can begin now. I haven't posted for 3 weeks, but for good reason. I've been livin it up, summer of fun and all! Noreen and I have been living like socialites, think Paris Hilton without the money, sex tape, bad album, or jail time...OK so we're just unemployed ne'er-do-wells. Either way, it's been a busy and fun 3 weeks.

First off, we got a lot of little things accomplished, cleaning the house, purging unneeded items and clutter, organizing, government/life paperwork stuff. It really feels great to have gotten this done. You know, arranging your physical world so that you can focus and run on all cylinders mentally. It has been like Spring Cleaning, except to a whole new level. We've both gotten new clothes as well, not a whole new wardrobe mind you, loans don't go that far. But enough so that we're not perpetually stuck in late 90's to early 00's fashion for the next few years. Of course, we're gettin er done in anitcipation of neglecting all of this for a very long time with our upcoming extremely busy schedules. So, another clean up may be required in another 10 months or so, we'll see.

But, it hasn't been all mundane Home and Garden TV activities. We have been all over the place! I already posted about our debaucherous sojourn to New York City. We followed that up with a slothful, lazy stay in Pennsylvania at my parents house. We surprised my father for his birthday which was pretty fun. We had some great food and conversation with my parents. Oh yeah, they have a pool and man was it nice to make use of that again! It was particularly enjoyable because it was right in the middle of that heat wave. Even the dogs loved it. Bingo would ship off on a raft and derangedly attempt to bite and drink all of the water in the pool. Maddie either ran around the pool trying to herd everyone, or she'd be in the pool leisurely doing laps. They were a hoot and a great source of entertatinment the whole time. We also toured some local vineyard/wineries in the area. That was fun, and we picked up a couple enjoyable, local bottles.

Then we went to Po-town, Poughkeepsie for you civilians. We got to go on a run with Noreen's Dad and Sister. I thought that was pretty cool because Noreen got to run with her Dad for the first time. See, Noreen has just started jogging(and is doing great with it) and running has been a very important part of Dad's life for a while now, so it was nice that they could share that. Also, we got to see Kelly's sister's new baby(lots of hair and adorable), as well as spend some time with Kelly and Clint. And if that wasn't enough, we met Noreen's Mom's new kitten, Emma. She's freakin calendar cute, and feisty. Then we took care of BS driver's license issues the next day and got on the road back to Boston.

At home, we've been doing the afore-mentioned life-cleanse, as well as singing live karaoke(with a live band, it's pretty rock star-tastic), candle pin bownling, eating out, continuing with the running, hanging out with the dogs, doing pre-school year things, relaxing, reading, going to movies, and such. And, tonight, we go to see the Indigo Girls in concert at the South Shore Music Tent. Saying that Noreen is exctied would be a gross understatement, she's flippin her lid. I've got to say that I'm pretty stoked as well. Now, my fanaticism cannot reach the heighths of a woman who came of age in the late 90's, but I do like their music quite a bit. And, I hear they are just superb and electrifying in concert. Also, this is the last big event before...duh...duh...duuuuuuuh...School starts! We obviously want to have a good time.

Actually, Noreen has orientation at this exact moment, and she continues that as well as some professional development days all next week. I begin the fun whirlwind of registration, community service activities, mini-classes, BBQ's, lectures, and glad-handing socials that is law school orientation next Wednesday. I really don't comprehend the whole social thing. Well, let me rephrase, I get it, I get that you really won't have time to meet people once the maelstrom ensues and that you need to form these connections to start study groups and know your classmates. I should say that it's foreign to me. Obviously, I need to get used to it because these things will continue my entire career to one degree of formality or the other. But, check this out, I have a party being thrown by members of my class on Tues. afternoon, an evening social following our community volunteering day on wed, a mini-social for my class section on thurs afternoon, another evening social on thurs night, a meet-and-greet for older law students who are coming in from the workforce instead of unergrad on fri afternoon, and finally a grand social for the whole law school on fri night. That's a hell of a lot of socializing! I better bring my smile and A game. I'm trying to decide if I should have some annecdotes ready to be on with in every situation or to just wing it. The former sounds a bit smarmy, but I know I'm going to end up answering the same questions over and over, saying the same things about myself over and over. It's enough to send a guy looking for a Xanax prescription, Dad? Just kidding, I'll drink a lot of water and make sure I don't lose my voice. Then after that, both Noreen and I begin classes on the 4th.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous, but I've covered that here before. I would also be lying if I said I was freaking out. I've almost getting anxious about the fact that I'm not more nervous. Ah, the gift of being over-analytic. Surely, this won't be an easy process, but I feel a couple of things that make me know it will be OK. First and foremost, Noreen and I have a very strong relationship, will this year test that...how can it not? But, we communicate very well, we love eachother deeply, and we work well together at solving problems whether they be BS life machinations or emotional-relationship issues. Next, we're both hard workers and very intelligent, so we'll make it through all the work we'll have. Additionally, we both tend to thrive under pressure, myself especially. Now, this is more pressure than either of us have dealt with before, but the hotter the fire, the stronger the steel.

On a more sad note, Noreen and I have stopped volunteering. I have to, there is no way that I can keep the commitment that those children deserve with my schedule and workload. So, I made my departure this week. Noreen has taken a leave of absence until her schedule settles itself out, and she can be confident in her ability to keep the commitment, having to write a thesis and work full time may be a little consuming. I can't speak directly for Noreen, but I know I'm going to miss it a lot, as I'm sure she will. As documented here, I learned a lot about myself and many other things playing with those children for 2 hours a week. And while it may have been a pain sometimes, really what kind of sacrifice was I making, maybe 3.5 hours with travel time once a week. It's nothing, nothing at all really that means a hell of a lot to those boys and girls, and to me. To see a smiling face peeking out the front window in anticipation of your arrival, to have them teach you a new boardgame or song, to watch a child finally "get it," or learn how to share and be polite under your direction, that's pretty amazing. I have to thank Horizons for Homeless Children and the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence for giving me the gift of that experience. I also want to give some serious applauds to the staff at both organizations who do a grueling job to accomplish some amazing work for not much money. Lastly, if you've been reading this over time or just found it, I encourage you to volunteer for anything. Even if it's just to help a neighbor in a non-formal setting, volunteer. It's very easy in this world of personal cell phones, computer consoles, cars, and television to get engrossed in the self and the individual. But, we are a social animal and their are communities out there, by tapping into those communities, you make the world and yourself better.

Ok, enough of my soap box. I don't really know how often I'll be able to update this, but I'll try. That's why this post has been so long. Have a good one.