The SBA "Motivational"

It is not actually called the "motivational" but it might as well be. Its official title is the "SBA President's Welcome." I'm one in a semi-long line of speakers whose job it is to encourage the students who will be subjected to what I affectionately call "Demon Exam I" (Not to be confused with Demon Exam II - eg the CBX).

This exquisitely designed torture device - aka the First Year Law Student Exam (FYLSX) or "baby bar" as it is better known as - is a required hurdle for any 1L from a non-ABA-accredited, California registered law school. Students must pass this exam before any further law classes are credited toward their total number of required hours beyond the three 1L foundational classes - Torts, Contracts, and Criminal Law. The weekend before this hell-on-earth 7 hour exam, Concord hosts a three-day boot camp style review session geared toward preparing students to take and pass the exam. Saturday evening they recognize students who have gone above and beyond academically. They also feature small speeches from various VIPs - including the SBA president (that would be me). The goal of the program is to encourage students to go into the test and "give it hell." However, speaking as a survivor, many of us that have taken and passed the exam agree that taking it is like standing on your own 1 yard line, throwing a "hail Mary," hoping that it makes it far enough up the field for a first down, doesn't get intercepted, and that you don't get sacked. Miriam - my upperclass mentor (who has now graduated - wail!) says that the best thing about the FYLSX is when you receive your passing score and know that you NEVER EVER have to take it again. Taking the "baby bar" is not for sissies.

This will be my third motivational - my second in official capacity as SBA President (I gave the first one along with then SBA Secretary and later SBA President Miriam Billington). I usually try to keep it light, upbeat, and under 5 minutes in length. So far my longest has been 4 and change. I try to keep it somewhat humorous and engaging because everyone is tired, hungry, and looking forward to dinner and relaxation before the last long day of review on Sunday. The hardest part about the motivational is keeping it appropriate for a mixed audience. No one has had enough to drink to allow for a roast (that was Friday evening's program), no-one wants to hear that it is worse than a 4th down on your own 1 yard line (no pressure), and you definitely can't say that everyone in the room is likely to pass (the pass rate is abysmal and the October exam has a reputation for being harder than the June exam). Instead the tone must be cautiously optimistic, upbeat, with the reminder that there is always next time - but only as a last resort.

So I'm off to watch another few hours of bad reality TV (Project Runway, Chopped) in search of inspiration.