It’s been a while

Coming back from winter break, settling into classes, and traveling have had me very occupied this semester.  It seems that second semester is very busy, but everyone knows what is going on so I don’t feel as lost- just busy all the time.  However, I like being very busy so maybe it might just be me feeling this way. 

 A few weeks ago I applied for the JD program here at VLS and am still waiting on whether I was admitted.  Besides waiting for this news, I have been preparing a summary judgment and oral argument for the MSEL writing class.  I have found this fairly challenging, but a great experience.  I was very nervous about how to argue my case in front of the judge (our professor) and the defendant (a felllow classmate), but everything went well after I stepped up to the podium.  This week I am fairly finished with class assignments and am preparing to go out of town to Maryville, MO.  I really like traveling while at VLS becasue it gives me a chance to get out of the town and to really focus on my homework without the distractions I seem to find around VLS and at my house.  I think I work very well in airports because I seem to get a lot of homework reading done, and when I return I am more focused on what I need to do before I travel again next.  

We are expecting a large snow storm tonight, but I am still going to do my homework because the past few weeks we have been hammered with snow, but no snow days.  So I am not counting on a snow day, and if we have one, I will be delighted to sleep in

Redemption

It took awhile, but at some point well into January, long after exams were taken and forgotten, our fall semester grades were finally posted.  Ever since then there’s been a lot of controversy over the curve, but that’s not really what I’m blogging about at the moment.  Maybe later; we’ll see.

I took two courses in the fall: Environmental Law (4 credits) and Environmental Writing 1 (2 credits).  I did… uh… not bad.  Earlier, in Term 4 of Summer Session 2007, I took a 2-credit course: Strategic Planning for Sustainable Development.  I did “not bad” in it, too.  (Yeah, the good folks at VLS were nice enough to let me get started a bit early, even though my application and admission were for the fall of 2007.  I liked that summer class.  And I liked the blueberries that were in season on campus at that time.  Yum!)

I say this not to toot my own horn, or to imply that my grades were perfect; I’ll leave it to the reader’s imagination how good “not bad” grades actually are.  I could just as well reveal things about my academic history that I’m not proud of.  As an undergraduate I did okay, but then I attempted graduate school… twice… and it just didn’t work for me.  Without going into too much detail about how bad it was or why, I’ll say that I didn’t exactly shine in my early attempts at graduate studies.  Frustrated and disappointed in myself, I quit trying, took a job, and was out of school for several years.

Then I applied to VLS.  I didn’t relish having to explain my poor past performance, but I hoped that the admissions committee would be understanding and compassionate (after all, everyone goes through rough times in life, right?), and see something in me that would be worthy of another chance.  I guess they did, since I’m here now.  And so far, in the three courses I’ve completed, I’ve done… not bad.  That’s a great feeling.  Redemption!  I am myself again!  (I hope!  [Knocks on wood.]  I tend to have an irrational fear of jinxing good things by discussing them! )

Thank you, VLS, for believing in me, and for giving me the opportunity to succeed and to create a new and better history for myself.

And to those of you out there who don’t have spotless transcripts: don’t let that deter you.  It’s never too late to try again and do better.

“Say What?!”

Well I’d just opened up this text editor dealie to write another post and yammer on mindlessly about how I was overly cynical and I did, in fact, get into that ADR course (yay!) and how neither of my courses this spring has any exams (yay — I think!) and stuff, but now I have something really worthwhile to share.

This link was just emailed to me by someone who once knew U.S. District Judge Jerry Buchmeyer.  Some funny stuff there.  http://www.texasbar.com/saywhat/weblog/

Law is fun.  It really is.

Maybe this semester I’ll keep up with my blogging…

So I’ve been meaning to post more for awhile.  No, really, I mean it.  But I’ve been busy.  No, really, I have.  I spent winter break moving to another town (also in New Hampshire).  I now live even farther away than I did.

I took my Environmental Law final on December 17.  It was something like three hours, as I recall.  I was wise enough to eat a relatively filling breakfast beforehand, so I wasn’t interrupted by hunger during the exam.  Unfortunately, however, I got very thirsty.  I’d thought to take a bottle of water, but didn’t have one ready to go when I was rushing out the door, so… I just suffered through.  I don’t recommend it.  Take water to your three-hour exams.  Better to  have it and not need it, as they say.

I don’t know if I’ll ever get any real feedback on that final.  I’ve had this nagging fear ever since, though, that I made some silly mistake and if I could see the graded exam I’d smack my forehead and think “Oh, I knew that!  What possessed me?”

So as I understand it, Professor Firestone doesn’t give back graded exams.  Darn it.  It always annoys me when professors adopt this policy; as I see it, the exam is part of what I’m paying for, it’s my work, and I’d like to have it.  For future reference, perhaps?  I might forget something some day.  Or for feedback, so I’ll know what I need to brush up on.  After all, I’m paying for an education, not just credit hours and grades.  Getting an exam back can be educational, in my book.

Okay, I’m done griping about that.  I’m over it.  Really, it’s not that big a deal, I guess. 

Now, on to the spring semester…

I still don’t know my spring schedule for sure, but it looks like I’ll be taking the second semester of Environmental Legal Research and Writing, at least.  That’ll be fun.  The first course was very useful.  And I’m waitlisted for an ADR (alternative dispute resolution) course that I’d really like to take, but am not optimistic about getting into.  I guess I get another shot at it next year — that’s one of the advantages of part-time status… taking more than one year means more than one chance at your top-choice classes.  (Oh, did I mention that the semester started today [January 09, 2008]?  But none of the classes I’m taking, or possibly taking, meet before tomorrow.  So yeah.)

Oh, I mustn’t forget to rave about the chocolate fountain.  VLS hosted a holiday party at the end of the fall semester, complete with a chocolate fountain.  Yay!  There’s another advantage to taking more than one year here: multiple holiday parties. 

Cheers!
Sally

It’s raining ice

Literally. And it’s physically painful. Let it snow again!

Everyone is now studying very diligently for finals. I was really really good this semester about keeping up with my reading every week, so I don’t have that much to go over before finals. I have a take home final for Energy which I pick up tomorrow, Firestone’s Environmental Law final on Monday, and my Extinctions paper due next Thursday. That’s wonderfully spaced out : D

I’m really excited about next semester! I’m doing an “independent research project” with Sarah about research and development in energy for Professor Dworkin, with the opportunity to get published! That was one of my goals, so I’m glad that is working out!

I went to an Academic Success program this morning on preparing for finals and found it extremely lacking. I asked the woman in charge if them if next semester she could prepare programs for MSELs because she only discussed things that would apply to 1Ls. However, I guess it won’t really matter next semester because the only class we’ll all have in common is the second half of Legal Writing and Research. I’ll be taking Administrative Law next semester too. Other than that, I’m still trying to figure out my schedule.

On a personal note, I’ve had kind of a rough week. Sorry if I’m in a bad mood!

Silence

VLS is usually filled with the chatting of students throughout the day in the halls, Chase Center, and around town.  Since last Friday, the chatter has deceased within the halls, Chase Center and the town.  All you hear is silence.  Everyone has their laptop open typing away, reading last cases out of their books, and concentrating on keeping their mind clear so they can excel on their exam. 

On another note, I didn’t attend the last day of class party because I went to Boston, MA for a meeting with my work-study position.  The four students on the Carbon Reduction Task Force went to meet with the NAELS President and with the Clean Air, Cool Planet Representative to discuss VLS’ efforts with their carbon footprint and carbon reduction programs.  The meeting was great, and I absolutely LOVED BOSTON!!!  I have never been to a city quite like it.  It had this charm that pulled me into it, and I am hoping that at some point I will have the opportunity to intern at a law office here, so that I can experience the city more.  One thing I didn’t like was the traffic, but I did like the fact that there was a metro system. So this meeting pushed me even harder to work towards getting an internship in Boston.

The reason why I want an internship is that I am hoping that I will be accepted into the JD program here at VLS so that I can continue my involvement with the school and broaden my horizons by being in such an ideal location- close to nature and major cities without being in them.  I am in the process right now of applying, and will be working on it over winter break.  Keep your fingers crossed because I will be!  I don’t want to leave this amazing place, the professors, the curriculum, or the staff and students that make this place special to me. 

Wish me luck on finals and the 12 hour trip to Detroit, MI…I have never experienced either of these, so it is getting a little stressful thinking about them becoming a reality.

classes are over

Classes are now over.  In an attempt to change it up a bit, I am at Dartmouth studying in one of the libraries.  Apparently Dartmouth is not applying their endowment to heating the libraries and I am freezing cold (but productive and awake!)…tomorrow I will bring a blanket.

When I grow up, I want to be a principal or a caterpillar.

I guess the first thing to talk about is the snow storm we got Sunday night and Monday.  I have heard we got anywhere from 10 to 16 inches.  VLS canceled classes on Monday.  Having a snow day was awesome.  I didn’t get as much school work done as I would have liked to, but going outside and messing around was great.  It took a good half hour to get my car unburied on Tuesday morning.  Lucky the roads were completely clear by Tuesday.

The title of my post is a Simpson’s quote from Ralph.  I found it relevant and humorous to what does one want to do with his/her life?  The main part of this post is about going on to the JD program.  I’m sure there a few prospective students reading this that will find themselves in the same situation I was.  I first applied to the JD program here at VLS but I was wait-listed.  VLS then contacted me about the MSEL program.  I looked it over and decided it would be worthwhile. 

Additionally what really helped make up my mind was the notion that if I did well in the MSEL program there was a good chance for acceptance into the JD program.  Also they don’t require you to retake the LSAT and they waive the application fee and essays.  It is largely dependent on your first semester performance, which can put some pressure on you, but the notion is, if you were good enough to get in here, you will likely perform well.

I’m really glad I ended up going the MSEL route.  Right now I’m trying to decide if I want to continue on into the JD program or not.  I think if I would have started out in the JD program I might have decide it wasn’t for me and wasted lots of money and time.  I’m back and forth constantly on whether I would like to continue on or not.

If not, I think I would like to work with an environmental consulting firm.  My background is heavy in science and I did similar work with IEPA and I would like to see what the private sector is like.  VLS really pushes the value of internships to its students.  Currently I am working with career services to find an internship with an environmental consulting firm, that way I can see if it’s sometime I would like to get into or not.  I will probably apply to the JD program to give me more time to decide whether or not to do it.  There are benefits to being a lawyer but the MSEL degree definitely gives one more options and more variety. 

I have a hard time deciding what to do because I really don’t know what I want to do with my life, very cliché but very true for most people.  I have a hard time accepting the fact I will loose my ability to do what I want basically when I want.  What I mean is right now, I don’t have to wait to the weekend for something fun to do.  In most ways I do, I have class and work that needs to be accomplished for class but overall freedom is still at hand.

I realize many people switch jobs and whole careers through the course of their lives; I’m having a difficult time even deciding on where to start.  I’ve still got some time before I make the decision and I hope some answers will come to me before it’s too late.  MSEL and stop or continue on to the JD?  That’s the questions with pros and cons on both.  Give it a few months and there will probably be a post about what I decided to do any why.

early to bed, early to rise?

This obviously did not work for me last night.  I tried to go to bed at midnight, but couldn’t fall asleep until around 4:30 am.  Needless to say, my plan to wake up earlier and do work for environmental law did not pan out.  What I am realizing more and more about law school is that to really get the full experience you need to be outgoing with the professors.  Talking to them, getting to know them, and more importantly, having them know you is really  helpful.  My department at Emory was about 60 kids, and there were no grad students, so we were treated with the same courtesy usually saved for grad students.  Weekly, we had a waffle brunch (Waffle Thursdays) prepared by Dr. Hickcox, and after our seminar class, we were taken out to dinner on the department’s bill.  Those experiences instilled the need to get to know my professors on a personal and professional basis.  It is only by doing this that you will get other opportunities, like the opportunity to write a paper to eventually be published, and to get a research position with a professor. 

Yesterday I wore a sweater, two jackets, and two shirts to combat the cold.  Today I downgraded to a light sweater and a puffy jacket and I feel just fine.  I have to say that buying my Uggs was the best investment that I could have made because my feet still stay warm : )  However, as everyone likes to remind me…it will get much much colder than this : (  I can’t even begin to imagine.

SNOW

Snow days are awesome!!  I didn’t think that VLS would cancel for a mere 2 feet of snow, but it was a nice surprise.  A few friends of mine and myself went sledding which made me so happy becuase I felt like a 10 year old again and could forget about school for an hour or so before I went home and pretended to study for finals (aka watched movies).  It was not fun, however, shoveling my drive way.  Anyways, I hope everyone had an awesome time with the snow and let’s hope for more!