And So the Job Hunt Begins...
As though we 1L's didn't have enough to worry about with finishing up clasess, writing memos, outlining and studying for finals, and trying to fit in the eating and sleeping part, they throw another ball in for us to juggle: thinking about the summer job.
Early this morning, dozens of first years groggily climbed up what must have been the longest broken metro escalator ever to attend career day. Although we're not allowed to formally start applying to jobs until December 1st and a lot of people say that you can hold off until winter break, it's nonetheless something else that is on our minds.
I guess it was really a reality check today that we are at a place to prepare us to get a job. That whole learning thing is just a step to get us there. My undergraduate education never really seemed career driven because I always knew that there would be 3 more years of school before I would enter my profession. Now everything seems to be so geared practically, which with its positives and negatives, is just a fact of life. Because unless you are absolutely crazy and decide to go to more schooling after this, you are going to have to get a job. And obviously the law school knows this, and that's why they rent out big ballrooms and give us free meals to help us with our career hunt.
All in all, it's very exciting and scary at the same time. Even though I know that my first summer job probably won't be the same place I work after I graduate or for the rest of my life (one, because I plan on moving back to California; and two, because I learned today the average lawyer has eight different job), you of course want to end up somewhere that is good and actually interests you. Oh growing up...
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Monogamy: It Does A Relationship Good
Call me old fashioned, but I think that keeping a relationship between just one person is a good thing. Though I will say my non-old fashion side doesn't care if it's a guy and a girl, two girls, or two guys. Whatever the combination, I just feel like the only way a relationship can work without hurt feelings is with two people in a committeed relationship.
I am not trying to be judgmental at all, and I'm not saying that you have to be in a committed realationship to be happy. Date lots of different people, hookup with random people, whatever. But if you're going to be in a relationship, why not just make it closed? This middle ground stuff never seems to work. I feel like I can be safe in guessing that 95% of the time the whole open relationship thing doesn't work in the long run. It seems like no matter what you say in your head, the heart gets jealous when one person in the open relationship starts dating someone else. I just feel like all of my friends' relationships problems stem from this problem and it's frustrating to watch over and over again.
Call me old fashioned, but I think that keeping a relationship between just one person is a good thing. Though I will say my non-old fashion side doesn't care if it's a guy and a girl, two girls, or two guys. Whatever the combination, I just feel like the only way a relationship can work without hurt feelings is with two people in a committeed relationship.
I am not trying to be judgmental at all, and I'm not saying that you have to be in a committed realationship to be happy. Date lots of different people, hookup with random people, whatever. But if you're going to be in a relationship, why not just make it closed? This middle ground stuff never seems to work. I feel like I can be safe in guessing that 95% of the time the whole open relationship thing doesn't work in the long run. It seems like no matter what you say in your head, the heart gets jealous when one person in the open relationship starts dating someone else. I just feel like all of my friends' relationships problems stem from this problem and it's frustrating to watch over and over again.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Coming Full Circle
Almost exactly five years ago, I stared outside a bus window in awe as we drove down the most beautiful road lined with fall-colored trees and colonial style brick houses. Then we pulled up to American University's law school, headed up to the top floor, and sat through a mock class in the ceremonial moot-court room. The professor sat in the judges seat and various students were called down to the podium to debate a first amendment issue.
Who knew that I would end up at the law school I visited on a high school conference about law. That instead of a big charter bus, I would be taking a city bus down that exact same road and see the same cute houses and trees. That instead of sitting in a mock class, I would be sitting in the exact same room as a law student. That I would be at the plaintiffs table as one of my collegues was up at the podium arguing the case that I helped prepare. (FYI: our side won and it was great!)
Part of me knew that I would be at law school right out of college, but I didn't know that it would be at American. Funny how parts of your life can give you glimpses of your future and you don't even realize it.
Almost exactly five years ago, I stared outside a bus window in awe as we drove down the most beautiful road lined with fall-colored trees and colonial style brick houses. Then we pulled up to American University's law school, headed up to the top floor, and sat through a mock class in the ceremonial moot-court room. The professor sat in the judges seat and various students were called down to the podium to debate a first amendment issue.
Who knew that I would end up at the law school I visited on a high school conference about law. That instead of a big charter bus, I would be taking a city bus down that exact same road and see the same cute houses and trees. That instead of sitting in a mock class, I would be sitting in the exact same room as a law student. That I would be at the plaintiffs table as one of my collegues was up at the podium arguing the case that I helped prepare. (FYI: our side won and it was great!)
Part of me knew that I would be at law school right out of college, but I didn't know that it would be at American. Funny how parts of your life can give you glimpses of your future and you don't even realize it.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
An American University
Reason # 2348259 why I love going to school in DC: The national sampling of students.
As people started talking about the buying prep courses for the bar exam (way too early for my liking), people were all discussing what state they were planning on taking the bar exam for. Although most law schools have students that will practice in the state where the school is located, this is not true for DC schools.
I've met people from probably half the states in our country. From opposite sides of the country, inbetween and even outside the continguous states: Washington (the state) to Florida to Kansas to Alaska. Now that I think of it, I've even met people from Singapore and France.
Sometimes I wish we could just start off class with "show and tell" with people from each state. You know, just a time when people can describe what it's really like from a state and tell us if there's any truth to the perceptions people commonly have. I know people always ask me about the weather, ocean, movie stars, the OC, and having Arnold as our governor.
It's kind of like undergrad where you met people of diverse backgrounds, now we're just adding regional differences too. Because as much as NorCal people try to pick a rivalry with SoCal, we're not nearly as different as people from different parts of the country. I've had a lot of fun learning about igloos in Alaska and churhces in the bible-belt south. And I've learned that there's no place like home in California.
Reason # 2348259 why I love going to school in DC: The national sampling of students.
As people started talking about the buying prep courses for the bar exam (way too early for my liking), people were all discussing what state they were planning on taking the bar exam for. Although most law schools have students that will practice in the state where the school is located, this is not true for DC schools.
I've met people from probably half the states in our country. From opposite sides of the country, inbetween and even outside the continguous states: Washington (the state) to Florida to Kansas to Alaska. Now that I think of it, I've even met people from Singapore and France.
Sometimes I wish we could just start off class with "show and tell" with people from each state. You know, just a time when people can describe what it's really like from a state and tell us if there's any truth to the perceptions people commonly have. I know people always ask me about the weather, ocean, movie stars, the OC, and having Arnold as our governor.
It's kind of like undergrad where you met people of diverse backgrounds, now we're just adding regional differences too. Because as much as NorCal people try to pick a rivalry with SoCal, we're not nearly as different as people from different parts of the country. I've had a lot of fun learning about igloos in Alaska and churhces in the bible-belt south. And I've learned that there's no place like home in California.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween!
Halloween's never been my favorite holiday. Sure my made us really cool costumes, but being the wuss that I am, I hated all the scary stuff.
Then I came to college and developed a great dislike for the holiday. Firstly, on Halloween so many college girls who feel the need to dress in...very provocative costumes. I know that dressing a certain way doesn't make someone a bad person, but I just don't like seeing that much of anyone. But even worse than that were many bad memories associated with the day, much like how bad relationships can make people hate Valentine's Day. My first year I had my first two midterms of my college career on Halloween. One of those was Prof. Thies' comparitive politics midterm, probably the hardest midterm I took in all four years. Second and third year also had more midterms. And then my fourth year, UCLA had a devasting loss to Arizona.
However, I think today has helped me make amends with Halloween. As I walked out to the bus stop, I noticed for the first time that the leaves were beautiful autumn colors. And it was my perfect weather: clear blue skies and a slight autumn breeze so you only need a light sweater. Living outside of a college town, I now also see little kids in adorable costumes and jack-o-laterns sitting on porches. And best of all, my favorite professor came to class dressed as a vampire (fake fangs and all) and gave us dark chocolate hershey kisses. Oh, and I do have my memo due tomorrow but it's already done.
I'm glad that I reconciled with Halloween, because I really love celebrating all holidays. I'll finish up with a picture that I promised my mom I would post up. Here's my roommate's and my Halloween costumes. She's a Ninja Turtle and I'm a DC light post.
Halloween's never been my favorite holiday. Sure my made us really cool costumes, but being the wuss that I am, I hated all the scary stuff.
Then I came to college and developed a great dislike for the holiday. Firstly, on Halloween so many college girls who feel the need to dress in...very provocative costumes. I know that dressing a certain way doesn't make someone a bad person, but I just don't like seeing that much of anyone. But even worse than that were many bad memories associated with the day, much like how bad relationships can make people hate Valentine's Day. My first year I had my first two midterms of my college career on Halloween. One of those was Prof. Thies' comparitive politics midterm, probably the hardest midterm I took in all four years. Second and third year also had more midterms. And then my fourth year, UCLA had a devasting loss to Arizona.
However, I think today has helped me make amends with Halloween. As I walked out to the bus stop, I noticed for the first time that the leaves were beautiful autumn colors. And it was my perfect weather: clear blue skies and a slight autumn breeze so you only need a light sweater. Living outside of a college town, I now also see little kids in adorable costumes and jack-o-laterns sitting on porches. And best of all, my favorite professor came to class dressed as a vampire (fake fangs and all) and gave us dark chocolate hershey kisses. Oh, and I do have my memo due tomorrow but it's already done.
I'm glad that I reconciled with Halloween, because I really love celebrating all holidays. I'll finish up with a picture that I promised my mom I would post up. Here's my roommate's and my Halloween costumes. She's a Ninja Turtle and I'm a DC light post.
Monday, October 30, 2006
A Memo is Worth A Million Words
(and so is a picture of the memo-writing)
Honestly, I tried to start about 5 different entries for today but I ended up deleting all of them. Nothing was really making sense because my brain feels like mush. Good mush because I'm pretty much done with the draft of my memo that I don't even need to turn into until Wednesday, but mush nonetheless. My ability to convey cohesive thoughts has all been used writing about kids, trespassing, and hot tubs.
Anyway, a lot of people wondered where I disappeared after I decided to block myself from using AIM for 5 days. This picture pretty much speaks for itself. As I labled it on Facebook: The Law offices of Kolavala & Doan. Complete with hundreds of pages of cases, coffee, and delirium.
Before I babble more nonesense, I think it's time for me to go to bed.
(and so is a picture of the memo-writing)
Honestly, I tried to start about 5 different entries for today but I ended up deleting all of them. Nothing was really making sense because my brain feels like mush. Good mush because I'm pretty much done with the draft of my memo that I don't even need to turn into until Wednesday, but mush nonetheless. My ability to convey cohesive thoughts has all been used writing about kids, trespassing, and hot tubs.
Anyway, a lot of people wondered where I disappeared after I decided to block myself from using AIM for 5 days. This picture pretty much speaks for itself. As I labled it on Facebook: The Law offices of Kolavala & Doan. Complete with hundreds of pages of cases, coffee, and delirium.
Before I babble more nonesense, I think it's time for me to go to bed.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A DC Halloween
Sometimes when I'm wrapped up in writing memos and briefing cases, I forget that I live in probably the largest political hotbed in the world full of rampant politicos. Fortunately I have a roommate who will drag me out to a Halloween party full of politicos, if only for an hour so I can wake up early to continue working. Lo and behold, an apartment full of people with quirky political costumes that usually needed to be explained, but once they were, everyone got it and laughed. Some examples:
Description: Guy wrapped up in the tape of an audio cassette, with random quotes on his tshirt.
The Political Costume: The missing minutes of the Watergate Tapes.
Description: Guy in a suit, a girl with a sweater wrapped around her shoulders also wearing a Burberry headband, and a guy wearing a beret, tie dye, and carrying a poster.
The Political Costume: A World Trade Organization protester demonstrating infront of Republicans.
Description: Guy wearing a woman's tweed skirt suit, glasses, and boxing gloves.
The Political Costume: Janet Reno
Description: Guy wearing a cowboy hat with a conferate flag, big Stenson belt buckle, other cowboy things.
The Political Costume: President Bush
Description: Multiple guys wearing suits or little boy costumes.
The Political Costume: Foley-Bait
Honorable mention goes to some other non-political costumes that were very clever which included a girl who dressed up as Pluto, a girl with a black-eye and P's tapped onto her as the Black Eyed Peas, and my roommate who was a Ninja Turtle. As for me, I was a costume that only DC'ers would get. I dressed up all in gray and wore a campaign poster from the DC Mayor's race and held a flashlight up. Anyone who lives in DC knows how all the light poles are completely covered in these campaign posters right before the election. Yeah, it's only funny if you lived here and saw it but I got a lot of laughs for my last minute costume.
Sometimes when I'm wrapped up in writing memos and briefing cases, I forget that I live in probably the largest political hotbed in the world full of rampant politicos. Fortunately I have a roommate who will drag me out to a Halloween party full of politicos, if only for an hour so I can wake up early to continue working. Lo and behold, an apartment full of people with quirky political costumes that usually needed to be explained, but once they were, everyone got it and laughed. Some examples:
Description: Guy wrapped up in the tape of an audio cassette, with random quotes on his tshirt.
The Political Costume: The missing minutes of the Watergate Tapes.
Description: Guy in a suit, a girl with a sweater wrapped around her shoulders also wearing a Burberry headband, and a guy wearing a beret, tie dye, and carrying a poster.
The Political Costume: A World Trade Organization protester demonstrating infront of Republicans.
Description: Guy wearing a woman's tweed skirt suit, glasses, and boxing gloves.
The Political Costume: Janet Reno
Description: Guy wearing a cowboy hat with a conferate flag, big Stenson belt buckle, other cowboy things.
The Political Costume: President Bush
Description: Multiple guys wearing suits or little boy costumes.
The Political Costume: Foley-Bait
Honorable mention goes to some other non-political costumes that were very clever which included a girl who dressed up as Pluto, a girl with a black-eye and P's tapped onto her as the Black Eyed Peas, and my roommate who was a Ninja Turtle. As for me, I was a costume that only DC'ers would get. I dressed up all in gray and wore a campaign poster from the DC Mayor's race and held a flashlight up. Anyone who lives in DC knows how all the light poles are completely covered in these campaign posters right before the election. Yeah, it's only funny if you lived here and saw it but I got a lot of laughs for my last minute costume.
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