The
dreadful nights have passed. The grades are finally out and we’re officially on
summer break. It was a fast year. The
days have gone so swiftly and it was just like a blink away. But the year that
has just passed was a very fruitful and amazing year - it became an opportunity
to grow, to learn and to relearn life.
Hello Cebu
Choosing
to study Law in Cebu was a result of an interplay of many factors. Aside from the very reality that I want to
try living away from home, the school gained the most weight of my decision.
Who would not want to graduate in one of the best schools in the country? But
everything has a price. Together with the want to be independent and to study
in San Carlos is living away from family. Was it difficult? Yes. But I took it
as a challenge. It is part of my growing experience – having to face life and
its problems alone, budgeting for your daily consumption and maximizing
available resources. In the first place,
I asked for it and life is just testing my limits.
Culture Shock: Cases and Digests
Before
entering Law School, I was already expecting it to be a bumpy ride. Not
deciding to go into law school right after graduating college was part of
preparing myself. I need to be disciplined. I need to pay attention to details
and I need to be effective in oral and written speech. I need to be confident
with myself so as not to feel intimidated by teachers and intelligent
classmates. I need to be firm before entering Law School.
But
theory will never be at par with reality. I thought the three-year-experience I
had would be enough. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
It was a
totally different experience. Reading, exams and oral recitations was taken to
another level. It was so much different from college and the Master’s program.
As a full time student, I have all the time to read and prepare for our every
class, but time seemed to be always not enough. I still get tongue tied when
asked. Intimidation still kills me in every session. And I can never really
read and memorize everything before entering class. Sometimes, teachers would
even make fun of you. If you are threatened, they’ll threaten you even more.
And complaining would not do you any good.
When
there are case assignments, instinct would tell you to find refuge in case
digests. But trust me. It will bring you more harm than good. Your teachers
will know if you have faithfully read the assigned readings. They’ll ask you
even the minutest detail which you’ll never find in case digests. But not being
able to answer well in law school is not so much of a big deal. Every law
student has had its “disgraceful but not-so-disgraceful” moment.
Love and Friendship
But the
best part (for me) of being in Law school is finding Love and Friendship. I
definitely found some of the best people in my life in law school. Law school
could have been a lot more difficult if I didn’t have friends who’ll cry and
laugh with me along the way. My friends definitely played a big role in my
adjusting and surviving first year in law school. And sharing law school with
these people has strengthened the bond: knowing and understanding our each and
every struggle in law school made us more patient with each other.
401was
my room assignment. I spent my first and second semester in law school in the
room assigned as 401 together with random people who happen to be, like me,
driven in law school… for various reasons. The room was filled with a lot of
character. As what I have observed, unlike the other sections, mine was the
most random, the most fun, the noisiest and the most care-free. We study but
not study as in “STUDY.” We’re serious in law school but we also know that Law
school is already too complicated that you have to take it lightly once in a
while else it’ll drain you. We’re competitive but we refuse to compete in Law
School. We realized that it would be more helpful to all of us if we help one
another.
Bring it on 2nd year
The
grades for the first semester are out and I cannot contain the happiness I feel
after knowing that I passed all my subjects. It was a tough year. You can never
be certain that your answers are correct in the exams. You can never be
confident in every oral recitation and you always get the feeling that you’re
hanging in the edge. You always get that
feeling that you fail the course and that you are not good enough to be in the
school. And when the grades are out and you get an at least 3.0, Hallelujah!!!
Your spirit rises to the heavens like you are the most blessed person on earth.
But the
passive character we had for the past year will only put our investments to
waste if retained. The coming year requires diligence and sacrifice. The coming
year requires change – a change which means a letting go of our passive selves.
I am no
longer a freshman. The adjustment year has passed and the teachers are
expecting more from me. Am I ready? I’m not really sure. But one thing is for
certain, I need to give my all starting next year.
Building your Character
Law
school is not merely a test of one’s knowledge but at the same time a test of
character. Law school will teach you to humble yourself. It will make you
realize how small you are and will make you learn to accept humiliation in
order to grow.
***
End of
Year 1 J
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento