Finals...2 down, 2 to go

[alee_grrl]

Warning: Heavy Sarcasm and strange humor may be present in this post. Read at your own risk.

So last Wednesday was the start of that most crazy week of the law school semester: Finals Week! ::insert maniacal laugh or creepy music here:: This week (and the few days prior to it) will show you law students at their most zombified, or most neurotic (myself included). As we all make the mad dash to make sure we understood just what we were supposed to learn this semester and oh my god the finals the only thing the grade depends on this one test....and breathe.

So I've tried to do most of my studying off campus just to keep myself out of the stress loop. Thankfully I have a nice quiet apartment to myself and can study or not study to my hearts content. I've done plenty of studying, but mostly in moderation (not counting my two study sessions with a friend where we'd spent a good four hours going over material for two classes). My panic attacks mostly came before the first final. It was a closed book final and I had no idea what to expect. I felt much better about finals in general after it was done. I didn't stress nearly so much about the second final. I feel as if I got a good solid B at least on both finals, may have even done better than that, but a B would make me happy.

I have two finals left to go. One tomorrow afternoon and then one on Wednesday. I'm ready to be done at this point, but am thankful to have the day of rest between the finals. I spent a little time yesterday studying, and will spend a little more time today. The material for the coursework tomorrow is mostly going to be knowing how to show the historical evolution of constitutional doctrine, and I feel I have a decent handle on said material. Mostly I'm doing a bit of review and then working on relaxing and boosting my confidence.

So I'm shunning (or attempting to shun) the cyclic panic and zombie studying modes and go for the more relaxed approach. A run through of the material to serve as a good reminder, finish up any materials that I will actually be able to take into the test with me (open book tests allow study materials that you have created yourself), and then do something not study related at all. If I don't know it by now, I'm not going to learn it in a day. But this is okay, because I'm pretty darn sure I know what I need to know and that is all that matters.

Comments

[geeksdoitbetter]

i've never understood why law school and medical internships are so very horrible

"it's always been that way" is the only crappy reason i ever hear

[alee_grrl]

I think a lot of the reasoning is to try to separate the chaff from the wheat so to speak. It makes a certain amount of insane sense. Quite a few choose to go to law school (or med school) not because they really want to be lawyers or doctors but for other reasons (they can't think of anything else to do--this is actually something I have heard people say; they think they'll make lots of money; it's what is expected of them). The insane stress of the first year is one of the ways that many schools weed out those who aren't really interested (why on earth you would take on the massive amounts of debt if you weren't really interested I don't know, but logic escapes people sometimes). It's also a way to get people used to the immense pressures they will be under if they do certain types of law (criminal or high pay corporate law mainly).

This is not to say that I agree with how insanely stressful it is, because I think there are many other ways this training could be handled. This is just the reasoning I've come up with to try to understand the stress. :)

[geeksdoitbetter]

wait, so does your school actually provide information on developing coping skills to hande stress?

coz, otherwise, it's just a bunch of assholes playing "well, it was done to us, so ..."

i've been trying to think of other professions where there's a high level of stress in practice, but not in training. tho, i'm coming up blank

mebbe it's something to do with the life&death ness of both law and medicine?

[alee_grrl]

I think it has a lot to do with the life and deathness of both law and medicine.

My school is surprising good at offering stress relief opportunities and tips. The first two days of finals the faculty and staff provided treats for breakfast and homemade foods for lunch. There is a counselor available, and there have been lots of small events and reminders to stop studying at certain times. There is also a meditation chamber in the tower of one of the halls. Quiet study rules are in effect so people aren't distracting each other. It's just amazing how easy it is to ignore all the tips and work yourself into a tizzy, especially for first years.

[geeksdoitbetter]

ok

i officially heart your school

go them!

[alee_grrl]

I'm thrilled with my choice. Vermont Law School is one of the best community-wise. It was certainly a perfect fit for me. It's a great school academically too, though it's not a "top tier" school. I also love that it is out in the middle of nowhere (at least according to some of my classmates, who do not love this fact as much). I'm a country girl at heart. Yes, having to drive to get to a movie theater or other entertainment source is a bit of a pain, but since I spend most of my free time at home it's not a huge problem for me.