The Event Planner

I feel as though I am coming off an event planning "high." This week I was part of two great groups who planned a lot of events.

For APALSA, we had our first Asian Pacific Americans and the Law dinner on Wednesday with an amazing guest speaker and over 80 practitioners, judges, alums, professors, and students. We were so afraid that we would have a low turnout because of the rain and war protests, but we turned out the most number of Asians I have seen in one place since . . . being in San Francisco.

For the Integrated Curriculum Program, we pumped out 2 panels, a lunch and movie screening for 200 students, and an all-day conference on curricular innovations. The conference, which was today, well exceeded everyone's expectations. It was so amazing to hear professors from all across the country discuss how to improve legal education and know that our school put it together.

Even though I was not the lead on the two major events of the week, and the event-planning office significantly brought ideas into fruition, I guess I still had those pre-event jitters. Will enough people show up? Are all the rooms set up properly? Will people be bored? Did we order enough food? Are there vegetarian options?

Yet, I think going from a stage of anxiousness before the event to relief and success afterwards is what makes event planning so exhilarating. And this is probably why I once wanted to be an event planner and now just do it in all that law school free time. (Yeah, half of my classes were canceled this week, that definitely helped).

I have a feeling that I will find a way to keep doing this after law school as well. Just not wedding planning, I do not think I could deal with a lot of brides. There are always plenty of other events to plan, and type-A people to plan them.

Let the Madness Begin

Preface: In my early years of college I did not follow UCLA basketball because 1) I came from a football high school, and consequently, really only followed UCLA football, and 2) then-coach Steve Lavin seemed sleezy (think, Coach Bombay in his slick-backed hair phase in Mighty Ducks 2) and that sleeziness seemed to trickle down to his players.

I started following our team more my senior year, well before anyone thought we would be going to the Championship game, because I discovered new-coach Ben Howland and I really liked the team he was building. Seemingly more "wholesome" players, in the sense that they were talented but did not seem to have egos. Very team-oriented players who now actually went to class and occasionally made the honor roll (think, Kevin Love).

Not that anyone has called me a bandwagoner, but just wanted to lay that out there because of the timing of my excitement and because I do not like bandwagon fans (think, 75% of USC football fans).

That being said . . . I am very excited for March Madness. UCLA's first game is tonight, GO BRUINS.

Counsel or Counselor?

Maybe I am drawn to the law because I like advising people (aka: telling people what to do). Even though my one class was canceled today, I still managed to fill up the hours at school by playing law school guidance counselor:

9:50am: At the bus stop, talked to a 1L about whether or not to do his judicial internship for credit
12-1:00pm: Spoke on a panel for 1L students about choosing classes
1-1:30pm: Answered individual questions about choosing classes
3:30-4:30pm: Met with one of my 1L students to answer questions about fellowships, class selection, and externships
4:30-5:30pm: Gave a tour to an admitted student and answered his questions about WCL

Honestly, it is weird giving advice since I am only one year removed from 1L year and still don't know many of these answers myself. But I do think people pick up the law school ins-and-outs pretty quickly when you experience it yourself. Anyone could probably give the advice I give; I am just one of the crazy people who always volunteers to do it.

Related story: I sit in a library study room for 2 hours every week waiting for students to come ask me questions. Although I had a lot of visitors last semester, no one has come in the 10 weeks of this semester. . . that is, until I leave for the very first time a little early. Figures.

Spring Break Snapshot

Some of my favorite pictures from my San Francisco Trip. Stories to come later this week when I am less busy. All the pictures from my trip are also on my Flickr account.

Picture of the Golden Gate Bridge from the other China Beach

At Hog Island for Oyster Shucking!

Hog Island Coast

Andrew and I are ready for lunch with our fresh oysters and mussels from the bay.

Giant Oysters!

Andrew slurping down raw oysters.

The Cousins in Healdsburg (by Sonoma)

My brother with his Fraternity Brother, Stephen Williams, who is better known as the guy who slapped Irene on the Real World Seattle and was later arrested for prostitution.

View from Math Building at Berkeley, where apparently a lot of people have committed suicide :(

Family Picture at Twin Peaks