law school: December 2005 Archives

So I'm working on this take home final for my Environmental Law class and it's really sorta stressing me out. I'm not one who usually gets all worked up about finals, but this one is different. This one involves exactly what I want to do - I feel like I have to do well.

Every other case is "so and so sued the EPA" or vice versa and I keep thinking "I'm going to be working there this summer! I better know my sh*t!"

I very often in the past have talked myself out of being stressed about something by thinking "I'm NEVER going to use this!" - but now, all this stuff seems very relevant!

Do not take life so seriously, no one will make it out alive!

What is it about law school that makes seemingly sane people completely lose their minds?

Finals time is upon us once again and the tension level at school has risen about three knotches. I'm not really feeling the heat this time around. I'm not sure if its because I have less classes than before, because I don't feel as far behind as usual, or because I have managed to procure summer employment and now feel that my grades are not quite as important, but I'm just not stressed out. Sure, I will study hard and want to do well, but I'm not going to lose my mind over it. Its not worth it.

The same cannot be said for everyone.

I was sitting next to a good (altho somewhat drifting) friend of mine yesterday in Con Law. This friend is in the top 10% of the class. He's smart, dedicated, and has a very bright future ahead of him. I heard him sigh deeply and looked over to see him about to descend into a panic, at which point I asked what was wrong. He said he's totally going to fail his finals and whats the point of studying since he will never get a job. I feigned concern and asked why he was so worried, to which he responded "Well,I haven't been studying as hard as last year and I know I'm not prepared and ...".

But here's the thing. The guy studies. A lot. He always comes to class. He always pays attention in class. Based on his prior grades (almost entirely A's and B+'s) he obviously knows how to take law school finals (which I'm convinced is half the battle). What the hell is he worried about?

The guy I sit next to in another class, the stereotypical gunner who asks no less than 10-15 questions per lecture, snapped at me this morning. He asked yet another question and the professor looked somewhat annoyed and baffled and gave him an answer. Then someone else asked a question to which he responded "Good question!" Gunner dude next to me looks over and says "He never says that to me!". I jokingly say to him "well maybe that tells you something eh?" and he looks seriously hurt. He says "I've figured you out! You say things jokingly but you really mean it!" ... I like the guy and honest to god WAS kidding when I said it. He proceded to pout for the rest of class. We're friends and often joke about this sort of thing. Why the temper tantrum today?

This can only be explained by pre-finals madness. Or a serious lack of coffee.