2008: Year in Review

My annual review of the year . . .

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Some ‘firsts’ in chronological order: received a copy of my published law review article, went to the Final Four, had a paying summer job, went to the cabin with Alex's family, had my own clients, voted for the winner in a Presidential election, spoke in court in front of a judge.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I cannot remember if I made any last year, but I plan on making some this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Doug and Sara had little Charlotte.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Only more distant relatives and relatives of friends.

5. What countries did you visit?
I did not leave the country this year but I did get explore more the United States like Texas, Philadelphia, and more of the Bay Area.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
An answer to the question: what are you doing after graduation?

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4, 2008, when the news called the election for Barack Obama. It was amazing being in a bar, watching the results on 20 tvs with hundreds of other supporters and then celebrating out on the streets past midnight.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I grew a lot professionally by trying a lot of new things and not stressing about finding the one job that I will do for the rest of my life. This year I got to work on higher ed issues at the university’s general counsel’s office, family and k-12 ed law at my summer job, and provide services for low income clients at the clinic.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Allowing bratty undergraduates in Santa Barbara get the better of me in my summer subletting situation.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Allergies. My roommate calls me sneezy.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A Wii and Wii Fit my brother and I got for my parents. Fun for the whole family.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am very proud of my younger brother from graduating from Berkeley’s engineering school, finding a job that he loves, and living on his own in San Francisco.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
There is nothing like election year to remind you that there is a surprisingly large population of our country who are ignorant and prejudiced. Additionally, I went up against two opposing counsels this year who were unbelievably rude and gave lawyers a bad name.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and during the summer, a large part of my paycheck went to gas. Filling up the old Explorer cost over $75 each time.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Presidential Election and going to work every day in the General Counsel’s Office.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
It’s not a good song, but Fix It by Danity Kane because the boys sang it when we were in San Antonio for the Final Four, it always came on the radio when I was driving to work this summer, and my roommate liked to play the song in the apartment for me.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Same I think.
iii. richer or poorer? Even though I made more money than ever before, tuition kind of canceled that out. Hopefully this will be my last year of being poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read more for pleasure, exercised more regularly

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Trying to please everyone, spending time on the computer, and watching television.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas again with my mom’s family (over 25 of us) in San Clemente.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
More every day.

23. How many one-night stands?
Not applicable

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Top Chef, Project Runway, the Office, Extreme Home Makeover, and many other reality tv shows on Bravo I should not watch so much of.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I realized that every year I fill this out, I pick a new politician every year. In that vein: I have a deep disdain for Sarah Palin. Additionally, I really disliked some lawyers I worked against and the girls I had to deal with this summer. Other than that, I do not hate anyone close or who matters to me.

26. What was the best book you read?
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered hip-hop and pop music thanks to having a car and radio again this summer.

28. What did you want and get?
Alex bought me the coveted purple pea coat, a find that impressed many.

29. What did you want and not get?
Every year I have to say a national championship in basketball for UCLA.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mamma Mia because of my unconditional love of anything related to ABBA. Surprisingly, I also really enjoyed Iron Man.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a low-key birthday with my family and some extended family in San Clemente.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think I had a pretty satisfying year; I cannot think of anything that would have made it significantly better.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Business casual with a splash of fun and feminine H&M separates.

34. What kept you sane?
Family, boyfriend, friends, roommate, and coworkers to give me perspective. Going to church weekly to cleanse my mind.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The entire Obama family.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Besides the general election, gay marriage and Proposition 8.

37. Who did you miss?
Many of my friends and family who live across the country.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
All of the new people that I have worked with this year. I was lucky to find many great mentors. Additionally, I became good friends with many new people on my law journal.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Seek out new opportunities personally and professionally because you can never have learned enough.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I am never good at this question so how about a YouTube video that reminds me of this year and always makes me smile.