I survived and passed (!) my first quiz. I am very pleased. We (my cohort) really struggled with it. The concepts were difficult, and many of us are feeling like we are barely keeping our noses above water. But, I'm continuing on.
Today I gave myself a brain break. J and I took the kids to a Dan Zane's concert at UCLA and rocked out. Lots of fun. I was planning on studying when we got home, but we're all exhausted, so I'm giving myself an evening off. Back to the books tomorrow.
I'm hoping that the rest of my cohort is feeling better. Many of them were discouraged, and our alumni mentor was trying to get us feeling better by reminding us that it was our first quiz, that the first one won't count if it is your lowest quiz, etc.
....And yes...."swot" does perfectly describe the mind numbing, repetitive, hang in there by your fingernails type of studying that contracts requires. (in case you were curious....)
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
First Week
Waaaay back when I was first accepted, I mentioned that I had started to feel how incoming Freshman medical students might have felt. A combination of excitement, anticipation, and outright terror.
Now I believe I might understand how they feel after their first week - "What alien being took over my brain and made me think this was a good idea in the first place??!!"
I never understood my dad's story about after his first week in medical school he called his dad and said "I'm quitting!" I understand it a lot better now! And while I don't plan to quit, the thought has been there more than once!
I also don't think it's an accident that every introductory lecture I've listened to so far has started with "Welcome, we're glad you're here," and "Don't worry if you don't understand just yet."
The CALI lecture I listened to last night mentioned that the time to start thinking about panicking (not actually panicking, just considering it) would be about the middle of the first semester. So, for us CLS people in the April cohort - that would be about mid-September, I think. (Seeing as how we are on the year-long system, and not a semester system.) That gives me some hope.
So far, I have completed all my first module assignments in Torts and Legal Writing. I need to finish briefing my contract cases, and finish my assignments in Criminal. It's doable. I have to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint..
It will get better. I felt this way my first week in Arms Control Policy as well, and I got through that.
Have a good week everyone!
Now I believe I might understand how they feel after their first week - "What alien being took over my brain and made me think this was a good idea in the first place??!!"
I never understood my dad's story about after his first week in medical school he called his dad and said "I'm quitting!" I understand it a lot better now! And while I don't plan to quit, the thought has been there more than once!
I also don't think it's an accident that every introductory lecture I've listened to so far has started with "Welcome, we're glad you're here," and "Don't worry if you don't understand just yet."
The CALI lecture I listened to last night mentioned that the time to start thinking about panicking (not actually panicking, just considering it) would be about the middle of the first semester. So, for us CLS people in the April cohort - that would be about mid-September, I think. (Seeing as how we are on the year-long system, and not a semester system.) That gives me some hope.
So far, I have completed all my first module assignments in Torts and Legal Writing. I need to finish briefing my contract cases, and finish my assignments in Criminal. It's doable. I have to remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint.
It will get better. I felt this way my first week in Arms Control Policy as well, and I got through that.
Have a good week everyone!