…And just like that, my second year of law school is over. Well, it actually ended a couple weeks ago. I’ve just been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to reflect, much less write a blog entry about it. So, here’s me doing that now.
Before it even begun, two people warned me that my second year of law school would be more difficult than the first. That’s it. Two. I wish more people had warned me. Actually, I wish I had truly listened to those two wise, wise people. They were right. As you likely know, I took on a full course load and worked a part-time job during my fall semester. That was rough. Couple exhaustion with lots of responsibilities….not a fun combination. Although I’m a seasoned law student now, the coursework this year was harder, more advanced. The stakes were higher, too. There was a lot going on.
During the Spring semester, I decided to press on the brakes with my part-time job and just focus on school. School’s enough, trust me! It turned out to be the right decision. Being a law student is no joke. Being a disabled law student is no joke, either. Everything is much harder, for a myriad of reasons that I’ve already rambled on and on about. I hate repeating myself. You probably don’t like it, either.
Speaking of things people warned me about that I should’ve heeded… someone else said to me, “After your second year, you’re going to be tired.” Phew. Boy….they were absolutely right, too. In fact, they were so correct that I wish I could travel to the past and slap my silly first-year self. You know, like when Cher slapped Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck. Great movie. Snap out of it! Ring any bells? No? That’s ok. The movie’s from the 80s.
You get what I mean. People warned me but it didn’t get through for some silly reason. I think because I was so happy to get through my first year. I thought I got over the hump then. Ha! Wrong. The hump was year two. Now, I’d like to personally thank those two humans for their brilliant foresight and for looking out for me, as well as sincerely apologize for my own naivety.
The great news is my second year is over and done with. Cue party hat emoji. To me, that big milestone signifies a few things. The first? I’m that much closer to getting my law degree. Thank freaking goodness! The second? I’m that much closer to becoming a lawyer.
Let’s just pause right there for a second. That reality is looming. Being an attorney. Except, I honestly don’t think about it all that much. Is that odd? My mantra since starting this journey has always been one day at a time. Simple. True. Don’t get me wrong, I like to plan ahead. Yet looking too far in that direction can be super overwhelming. So I don’t do it. Instead, I break things down day by day and focus on forging on. Now, I’m two-thirds of the way through school. Just one year left. Yes, you can clap now.
Following in last year’s footsteps, here are three lessons I learned this year, in random order:
- Listen to your body. Resting is just as important as the work.
- Hold on to those moments of joy. Tightly.
- Keep going.
“Keep going” is a good one. Simple. True. That phrase, along with “one day at a time,” makes me feel unstoppable. Most days, anyway.
Number two is a good one, too. This journey can be a depressing, isolating experience. The law is racist, ableist and oppressive. Just a reminder in case you didn’t already know that. So, it’s important to grasp firmly onto good things, happenings and feelings when they appear. Do it. When I do, it’s much better for my mental health. I work hard to protect and maintain it, and going through law school should be no different. Even if studying law is a beast in its own right, a positive mindset and strong mental health can be a very powerful weapon to combat it.
As for the first item on the list, it feels repetitive and obvious but no less tried and true. Resting is even more crucial for someone like me. Someone whose CP body tries to make everyday things impossible. Here’s a hint that took me a long time to realize: things are not as impossible as you might originally think. A message for anyone who could be reading this, disabled or not: give it a try. Your best shot. You might surprise yourself. I’m pretty sure I surprise myself every day. Hey, that’s another lesson. You can do more than you think. A classic. As I like to say, a classic is a classic for a reason. Just like cliches.
The Spastic Diplege 