As I mentioned in my previous blog, my reading days started a day earlier than the official ones, thankfully. There are a lot of 1Ls who I’ve come to realize are a bit pampered compared to the MELP program. Their first exam isn’t until the end of this coming week, and have a few days spaced between that and their next one. I, and many other MELPS in the Land Use class, will have both that and the Natural Resource exams within the first two days of the exam period. Although the school accomodates for rescheduling multiple exams in the same day, and 3 exams scheduled 3 days in a row, there are no accomodations for the “fortunate” circumstances myself and half a dozen other MELPs will deal with. This is of course a double edged sword.

On the positive side, I will be done with the only exams I have right away so I can focus on that 15 pager, Leigh was talking about. The stress however, and pressure to prepare for a closed note exam for Land Use is intense to say the least. I believe success will be all about time management, as cliche as that is, and complete dedication to focusing on the task at hand… study, study, study.

My first snowfall in Vermont, as I look out the window and fail in attempting to focus on studying when all I really want to do is catch snowflakes on my tongue.

Well I’m done with 1/3 of my degree, minus a few papers and one final. It’s exciting to think that I have only two more semesters to go. The advantage of this degree is definitely efficiency. I enjoyed my classes, and more importantly discovered that I am not interested in going on for the J.D. It was a realization made over the past semester, when I found myself getting more excited by the policy aspects of my courses than the legal ones. This came as a surprise to me, since I have sort of assumed my whole life that I would go into law. Years of high school and college mock trial had me assuming I knew what it meant to be a lawyer. There’s a lot that goes on outside the courtroom, and the process is so different to arrive at the same place eventually.

It’s not to say that I’m not enjoying my degree, I absolutely love VLS, and I have been pleased with the classes I’ve been taking, they’re stimulating and I’ve learned a lot already – it’s just that they’ve made me realize that law is not my path to environmental work – it lies elsewhere. Professor Judy gave us a motivating speech at the end of our Natural Resources class yesterday. The message was essentially that we are all important to the environmental movement, there is a place in it for all of us, with our various backgrounds, strengths, and interests. She wished us luck, and encouraged us to go out and find the job that allowed us to make a difference. I enjoyed her course, it taught me a lot about the agencies I thought I already knew but didn’t. It also showed us that there’s a lot more going on when legislation is written, agencies are created, and cases are brought, than simply what’s best for the environment. Discouraging news for those of us biocentrists who feel the health environment should come before all else. Reality check.

Time to write my 15 paged single spaced paper you’ve all heard so much about, edit a draft of another paper, and a memo, and start on my outline for my Nat Resources exam. Semester isn’t over yet, but the end is in sight.

As the previous blogger mentioned, today is the last day of classes for this first semester. It’s hard to believe how quickly the semester has gone. August seems like ages ago, and yet it seems impossible that we’re already to reading period.

In two of my classes yesterday, the professors gave inspiring and motivational closing talks to the class. Although I’ve heard those sorts of speeches before, I hadn’t heard them in the classroom setting. I have to say it was a nice thing to see how much our professors really care about the issues they are teaching.

Both of my professors really stressed participation in the environmental field, and said there were many different ways to participate. I really appreciated that because, at least for me, I’ve found that I haven’t really had much of a chance to get involved in a community. I think it’s because I move around so often — which is a wonderful opportunity that many of us in this generation have. I went to undergrad on the other side of the country from my home, and I’ve not really stayed in a place for much more than a year since I graduated.

While it’s wonderful to have so many opportunities to travel and live in different places, my classes yesterday made me realize that when I do stay in a place, I’ll likely be able to participate in a more meaningful way.  And, participating on a local level is perhaps the easiest way to be involved — there at least seem to be relatively few barriers to getting involved.

It was strange for me, because I’ve really enjoyed my classes, but I had this urgent desire to get involved yesterday when I was reflecting on my courses. I guess that’s a good thing  since I won’t be in school forever. And, it is good to know that I am anxious to get out there and put into practice some of the things I’ve already learned here at VLS, and to learn even more by actually doing, instead of just reading and learning.

This blog has gotten a little lengthy, but the main point is that beyond teaching me about interesting issues, my classes and professors this term have successfully motivated me to make a difference and get involved once I’m finished here at VLS (and maybe even before that!)

Today denotes the final day of my first semester as a MELP. The final day of classes at least. I have been fortunate to have Fridays off all semester and am thrilled at the moment especially. Official reading days don’t start until Saturday but, without class tomorrow, I am able to have one more reading day before my exams. Is that ever necessary too.

I am not used to this system of scheduled exams on specific days and times. My undergrad had open exams days with a heavy honor system. I could take an exam over a period of four or five days at one of three different periods throughout the day. The exams were not proctured. I would pick up the test from a central place, go to an authorized room, and return my test to that central location when I was done within the alloted time. VLS is probably more closely in line with many other schools.

I have an exam scheduled next Wednesday and another the next day. Fortunately those are my only two exams. Unfortuneately, they are back to back which makes these next few days a significant time crunch. Once those are behind me I’ll need to complete that 15 page single spaced paper for my Enxtinction and Climate Change class. I don’t anticipate finishing everything before the final exam date (December 17th) but, I know many other students will be in the same boat. However reassuring that may be.

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving break is over, and that we’ve only this week left for classes before finals arrive. Instead of talking about the end of the term, and all of the studying that will involve, I think I’ll talk about Thanksgiving in Vermont.

I was fortunate enough to stay in Vermont for the holiday — my family actually came to see me, which was great. Though it’s wonderful if you can go home for the holiday, if you can’t, you should also consider yourself lucky. For one, Vermont is such a lovely place to spend the holiday — it feels like Thanksgiving here, at least in my opinion. Also, it’s great not to have to travel from here. One of the hardest things about this place is traveling, particularly if it involves flying. It just takes a long time, and if you can avoid having to travel over Thanksgiving, I’d recommend it.

Also, even if your family doesn’t come to visit you during the holiday, VLS has several dinners that you can attend for the holiday. In fact, the local paper, The Valley News, had a front page article on the southern-style dinner that Dean Jefferson prepared for students who couldn’t go home for the holiday. I would post it, but the paper doesn’t actually post its stories on line. However, you can watch a story about Dean Jefferson and her experiences coming to VLS from the South. It’s a wonderful story, and also gives you a good introduction to Dean Jefferson, who is one of the most prominent and welcoming faces at VLS.

Well, that’s about it for now, except to say I feel rested and ready for the end of the term after a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. I hardly did any work, which I may regret later, but really enjoyed at the time. Now it’s time to get back to business, finish up outlines, hand in memos, and other good things like that.

Its Sunday evening and I’m sitting at my desk with my Natural Resources text in front of me, clicking between course webpages on TWEN (Westlaw) and Blackboard (Lexis). In between my readings and outlining I figure its a good point to add a quick note to the MELP blog.

For my Thanksgiving break, I was able to get home to see family down in Connecticut. As I headed south on I-91, hitting Springfield, Mass. was an eye opener for me. The lights, noise, and advertisements are all somewhat overwhelming after being in South Royalton for 3 months. I was reminded how wonderful VLS, and this little enclave of Vermont are. Being away certainly helps to appreciate what this small town has to offer. It makes coming back it a lot easier too.

Now its down to some serious work…

Today I went outside to leave for my 8:30am class and everything was covered in a thick layer of frost! The world was sparkly and white – so exciting! What was less exciting was seeing my car was also covered in ice, meaning I needed to scrape off my windshield. I’m beginning to see the value of a remote car starter, ha. Still, it’s exciting for this Cali girl to see a frosty white world. Can’t wait for real snow!

We’ve only got a few weeks of the semester left, and it’s time to write drafts of my final essays. My open memo is a bit rough around the edges, but I’m working on it. I also have a 15 page single-spaced paper for Parenteau’s Extinction course. I’m pretty excited about the topic I chose, but it is difficult finding solid information on the way climate change is affecting the oceans, since its still a fairly new area of research.

I am attending a VLS Fighting Swans hockey game tonight – apparently the team has won their last two games, so it should be fun. Saturday I’ll be heading to Montreal with a friend from school to see a Canadiens game – its my first visit to Canada so that will be awesome. It’s great that VLS is within driving distance of some exceptional destinations such as Canada, NYC, and Boston. Even though we’re all busy busy with reading and writing papers, it’s nice to be able to get away for a weekend to explore the Northeast.

I’m one of the students not heading home for the short Thanksgiving break. With only the tail-end of the week off, it’s just not worth the cost or hours spent flying. Luckily there are a few options for students like myself who are stuck here. There’s a Vegan Thanksgiving put on Monday by the student animal rights group, SALDF. There’s a community service Thanksgiving that students can pitch in on the food cooking and delivery to needy families, then join in the meal at noon on Thanksgiving day. Lastly, I will be attending a dinner put on by our Dean of Students, Dean Jefferson. She opens her home to students for a dinner in the afternoon on Thanksgiving day. While it’s not the same as being with family, I’m very glad to have a place to go to spend the holiday  with some good people from VLS =)

Its Tuesday night but feels like it should be later in the week than it is. Maybe that is a result of me doing homework every night since Saturday. I know that sounds truely thrilling. Trust me. I’d rather be doing other things than study on a Saturday night however, tis the season to make sacrifices.

There are less than 3 weeks left to class. I have a draft for an open memo due (you’ll learn to love these), a draft for a 15 page single spaced paper for my Extinction and Climate Change class due, and the increased amount of readings assigned for class as a last effort by the professors to get all of the material covered. Good times. To try and offset the panic I have finally given in and gone to the gym since its too dark and too cold to run in the evenings anymore. I’m not sure how the 2Ls manage their Appellate class in addition to their other courses. I am pleased to know that I do not have to deal with that.

Although Thanksgiving break is next week, I am positive I’ll spend 2 days of the break catching up on sleep and doing what I can to write and outline the rest of the time. I know the reading days will fly by just as the rest of the semester has. In fact I talked to a friend about someting I thought happened last week when she reminded me that it was actually 2 weeks ago. I’m not sure how I managed to have an entire week just disappear but, it did.

So, let the good times roll. Back to reading, writing, and not sleeping. Its worth it. All of the sacrifices are completly worth it. The work now, play later ethic isn’t so bad when you can see the end of the semester around the corner.

This past Friday night was Specific Performance.  It was AWESOME!!!!!!  There is another one next semester also, I am already planning on attending.  If you are like me and do not know what it is, well basically it is a Talent Show.  Yes, I know what you are thinking, “A Talent Show at a Law School?”  Yes I was thinking the same thing, but I could not stop laughing during the whole thing.  It was SPECTACULAR!  Students danced, played instruments, sang, jump-roped, there was also some comedy acts sprinkled it.  It all just blew the audience away.  I cannot believe the amount of talent here at VLS.  I was worth the $5 to get in.

Also on Friday night, there was a mixer at Crossroads with Dartmouth Medical Students.  This is a bi-annual event, so you incoming MELPs will not have the opportunity to meet the Med students.  I would suggest going to Hanover though and hanging out somewhere downtown and you can have your own mixer.  From the look on some of their faces, I think they could not believe how tiny SORO was.

To all you current and future VLS Students, ” Avoid DUI’s!  Metabolize!”