6:30 a.m. Sleep late; skip classes. Going to Richmond today to interview for a summer associate position. Walk the dog
7:00 a.m. To the gym for a workout
8:00 a.m. Review interview schedule and directions to office. Review firm website and bios of all six interviewers. Review potential interview questions from Monster.com. Draft questions to ask at interview so that I can appear “spontaneous” and “engaging” instead of “mortified” and “desperate.” Print an extra copy of the resume and school transcript to take with me.
9:45 a.m. No time to waste; get in the shower
10:45 a.m. Eat "lunch" before leaving so that I will not have to (1) stop to eat and (2) spill anything on myself.
10:55 a.m. Pop a Xanax. Begin travel to Richmond.
11:15 a.m. Attempt to listen to class lectures, but it is information overload; have to resort to mindless chatter on radio. Finally drive in silence and practice answering interview questions. Practice asking interview questions
12:50 p.m. Get ripped off by 75¢ toll that takes four quarters to open gate. Probably my fault.
1:05 p.m. Get ripped off again by 40¢ toll that takes five dimes to open gate. Now convinced it's a conspiracy.
1:15 p.m. Take the wrong exit.
1:20 p.m. Have to pay 25¢ at toll booth to get back on highway. Dammit!
1:30 p.m. Arrive in Richmond. Realize that height limit for parking garage is 6’ 0”, which is not conducive to my truck, which is 6’ 7”. (Note to self: Buy a sports car if I receive the summer associate position.)
1:35 p.m. Circle downtown Richmond searching for parking. Realize parking decks in Richmond must have been constructed before SUVs were stylish. Wonder why half of downtown Richmond is under construction. Whisper prayer of thanks that Xanax has kicked in, which is apparent from the fact that I am not plastered to the roof of the truck as a result of this serious parking dilemma.
1:45 p.m. Finally locate parking several blocks away. Deposit $1 in parking meter for two-hour parking. Begin long walk to office building.
1:55 p.m. Arrive at reception desk. Start smiling.
2:00 p.m. Interviews begin.
5:20 p.m. Interviews end.
5:25 p.m. Stop smiling.
5:30 p.m. Locate truck (no parking tickets; yea!). Head for home. Attempt to merge into downtown Richmond rush-hour traffic.
5:55 p.m. Pretend like I know where I'm going.
6:00 p.m. Wrong exit. Trapped on the parking lot called I-95 going in the wrong direction
Make good use of the downtime by consulting the atlas. (Daddy always said to keep an atlas in the car. Thanks, Dad!)
6:30 p.m. Point the truck in the direction of Lynchburg and set cruise control.
6:35 p.m. Occupy travel time with telephone calls to friends to review interview details.
7:00 p.m. Drive thru
9:00 p.m. Arrive in Lynchburg. Go to grocery store to buy items to make cupcakes.
9:30 p.m. Arrive at home
9:31 p.m. Peel off pantyhose.
9:45 p.m. More phone calls. Seriously trying to stay awake.
10:00 p.m. Go to bed. Lulled to sleep by the throbbing of my feet.
2:30 a.m. Get up. Bake cupcakes and make homemade icing for birthday party. (Seriously, what else would I be doing at 2:30 a.m.?)
3:30 a.m. Prep for classes.
6:00 a.m. Walk the dog
6:30 a.m. In the shower.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
....and you will be called Note.
For those who missed the joyous occasion, I gave birth last week. As with most deliveries, there was a lot of panting, sweating, screaming, and pain. But, when I gazed at my precious baby, I could honestly say that every moment was worth it.
At 6:37 p.m. on Friday, September 14, I delivered a healthy Note idea to the Law Review Editorial Board, weighing in at 6 2/3 pages. The editorial board immediately examined the Note idea to ensure that it had a proper question for inquiry, initial annotated bibliography, and preliminary outline.
As a new parent, I was very relieved to learn that the Note idea was healthy from head to toe. Of course, this is only the beginning of Note idea's life, and I realize that Note idea may not survive the editorial board's further scrutiny and inquiry. For now, though, just the thought of Note idea resting peacefully in the law review suite--huddled up next to the other Note ideas--warms the cockles of my heart.
Shortly after Note idea's delivery, I was discharged from the library and headed straight for home. It wasn't difficult to determine why I was so tired--exhausted even. After taking a few Motrin and a Xanax, I was in bed by 7:30 p.m., knowing that I would need all of my strength in the coming days to help Note idea grow into a strong, healthy, strapping Note. And, I promise that, when Note idea has finally blossomed into Note, everyone of you will be there as well to share in that wonderful event.
At 6:37 p.m. on Friday, September 14, I delivered a healthy Note idea to the Law Review Editorial Board, weighing in at 6 2/3 pages. The editorial board immediately examined the Note idea to ensure that it had a proper question for inquiry, initial annotated bibliography, and preliminary outline.
As a new parent, I was very relieved to learn that the Note idea was healthy from head to toe. Of course, this is only the beginning of Note idea's life, and I realize that Note idea may not survive the editorial board's further scrutiny and inquiry. For now, though, just the thought of Note idea resting peacefully in the law review suite--huddled up next to the other Note ideas--warms the cockles of my heart.
Shortly after Note idea's delivery, I was discharged from the library and headed straight for home. It wasn't difficult to determine why I was so tired--exhausted even. After taking a few Motrin and a Xanax, I was in bed by 7:30 p.m., knowing that I would need all of my strength in the coming days to help Note idea grow into a strong, healthy, strapping Note. And, I promise that, when Note idea has finally blossomed into Note, everyone of you will be there as well to share in that wonderful event.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
The Hurricane Known as "Year Two"
Famous law school adage: Year one, they scare you to death; year two, they work you to death; and year three, they bore you to death. I am blessed to be beginning year two and am well on my way to being worked to death, for sure.
It's hard to believe that this is the beginning of the third week of the semester. I have been busy with school and related activities every day for the past three weeks, including Saturdays and Sundays. Simply put, there just are not enough hours in the day. Last night I slept four hours; that was a blessing!
I will admit that some of my work is self-inflicted. For instance, I volunteered to work for Westlaw as the student representative. It only requires five to ten hours per week, and that commitment seemed inconsequential when I made it. Learning point: No commitment of time is inconsequential in law school.
I also have continued working as a Research Assistant for the law school professor. The work and hours are not too demanding. Obviously the professor knows the demands of a 2L student; however, I still feel compelled to push myself and work the maximum number of hours per week on his various projects. I have resigned myself to the fact, though, that before I work myself into delirium, this will be the first responsibility that I relinquish should my grades (or health) start to suffer.
As I have mentioned in a prior post, I am also working as a law review candidate. Within a few short weeks I will submit my proposal for my fall writing commitment to law review. This will take up a great deal of time the remainder of this semester, but the goal is to complete a Note that is publishable (even if not published) and to be invited to join as a law review "member" during spring semester.
Today I will appear in court at 5:00 p.m. to be sworn in as a CASA Volunteer. Afterward, I will be assigned a case involving child abuse or neglect. It will be my responsibility to investigate the case and prepare a report for the court. I will also make court appearances on behalf of abused or neglected children.
Most recently I have added one more extra curricular activity that I am most proud of: I have been invited to mentor a group of law students. At LU SOL, mentors "volunteer" for the job, but they are only "invited" to mentor based upon their class ranking and maturity. We have a new Student Affairs Liaison who has some wonderful ideas for the mentoring program. Her basic idea is that no student "drifts" through law school. Instead, we grow together, we lean on each other, and we learn from each other. Our mentoring program kicks off later this week, so I'll have to keep you informed of how it progresses.
And, when time permits, I will blog about an upcoming job interview.
Yikes! My life, my schedule, and my commitments are so insane. If I were to get a satellite view of all of it, I fear it would look like a hurricane--definitely a Category 5 that we will name Year Two. Growing up near the coast of North Carolina, I have ridden out a few storms in my life. I think they will pale in comparison. This one is going to be ferocious! But I'm too stubborn to move out of its way, so bring on the storm.
It's hard to believe that this is the beginning of the third week of the semester. I have been busy with school and related activities every day for the past three weeks, including Saturdays and Sundays. Simply put, there just are not enough hours in the day. Last night I slept four hours; that was a blessing!
I will admit that some of my work is self-inflicted. For instance, I volunteered to work for Westlaw as the student representative. It only requires five to ten hours per week, and that commitment seemed inconsequential when I made it. Learning point: No commitment of time is inconsequential in law school.
I also have continued working as a Research Assistant for the law school professor. The work and hours are not too demanding. Obviously the professor knows the demands of a 2L student; however, I still feel compelled to push myself and work the maximum number of hours per week on his various projects. I have resigned myself to the fact, though, that before I work myself into delirium, this will be the first responsibility that I relinquish should my grades (or health) start to suffer.
As I have mentioned in a prior post, I am also working as a law review candidate. Within a few short weeks I will submit my proposal for my fall writing commitment to law review. This will take up a great deal of time the remainder of this semester, but the goal is to complete a Note that is publishable (even if not published) and to be invited to join as a law review "member" during spring semester.
Today I will appear in court at 5:00 p.m. to be sworn in as a CASA Volunteer. Afterward, I will be assigned a case involving child abuse or neglect. It will be my responsibility to investigate the case and prepare a report for the court. I will also make court appearances on behalf of abused or neglected children.
Most recently I have added one more extra curricular activity that I am most proud of: I have been invited to mentor a group of law students. At LU SOL, mentors "volunteer" for the job, but they are only "invited" to mentor based upon their class ranking and maturity. We have a new Student Affairs Liaison who has some wonderful ideas for the mentoring program. Her basic idea is that no student "drifts" through law school. Instead, we grow together, we lean on each other, and we learn from each other. Our mentoring program kicks off later this week, so I'll have to keep you informed of how it progresses.
And, when time permits, I will blog about an upcoming job interview.
Yikes! My life, my schedule, and my commitments are so insane. If I were to get a satellite view of all of it, I fear it would look like a hurricane--definitely a Category 5 that we will name Year Two. Growing up near the coast of North Carolina, I have ridden out a few storms in my life. I think they will pale in comparison. This one is going to be ferocious! But I'm too stubborn to move out of its way, so bring on the storm.
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