Drawing near

(they look better w/o the black-outs, obviously)

Update: 4/10/08 (Long-post warning!!!)

I'll probably be doing a bit of reflection on law school in the next few weeks (bear with me)... but, I love to notice change in the world (change in others, change in myself). And, of course, I've changed a lot in law school. Some for the better - some not so much.

I remember getting ready for law school ~ I was so scared, so nervous/anxious, and excited. I couldn't even picture my life as a lawyer in Colorado. My Vegas life was 'comfortable.' I was happy for the most part - secured by an okay job with a regular salary. I had friends that I really cared about (a lot of whom I'm sad to say, I haven't kept in touch with despite myspace -- I'm blessed by the people I knew there who were genuine - caring - and diverse - I knew people from the Philippines, China, Vietnam, New York, Ohio, Utah, Colo, AZ, Mexico, Calif. TX). I changed for the better because of the diversity - a naive Wyoming girl finally discovering the world. But, I wasn't as satisfied as I needed to be because I never felt like I was reaching my potential - I just wasn't challenged intellectually the way I had always expected. However, while in Vegas, I learned how to be more balanced physically - emotionally - spiritually. I learned how to let down my guard and trust others ~ much of this based on my discovery of yoga (chakras and energy therapies) that helped me better understand my place in this world.

Moving to Colo. was harder than I ever could have thought. I knew law school would be hard - so I wasn't surprised by that. But, I was surprised by my reaction to new/hard situations. I completely lost myself during that first year - focusing so much on keeping up with all the reading/writing I was forced to do and trying to see the big picture in a new world that I didn't comprehend. I focused so much mental changes that I lost the physical-spiritual-emotional balance that I had. I closed up socially - and avoided making new friends. I depended a lot on my family. But, after awhile, they became frustrating and stressful - and then I found myself without anybody besides them. I couldn't find time for yoga or other workouts and gained weight (seriously affecting my self-esteem), and because of my newfound cynicism - I lost my faith and spiritual balance - especially when I realized my new field included so much cut-throat competition.

Slowly over the last two years, and now with 30 days of school left, I'm happy to report that I've recovered some of that balance in my life. I'm going to yoga again on a more regular basis - I'm better emotionally - socially - physically - spiritually and - intellectually. Despite my low GPA (and absolutely zero "A"s in lawschool - which were always so easy as an undergrad), I finally FEEL like I know who I am again and that my new identity will include "being a lawyer." I feel confident that I'll be okay post-graduation in the professional world. Plus, I'm extremely proud of the accomplishments I have made.

including these:

• internship w/ district court judge
• internship w/ state attorney general
• internship w/ state supreme court justice
• internship w/ city attorney
  
• president - latino law students association
• representative - hispanic bar association
• citizenship drive organizer
• inn of court member
• moot court/mock trial competitor
• constitution day presentation at middle school
• tutor at inner-city (spanish-speaking) elementary school
• outstanding 'latino/latina' graduate 2008
• tech journal member
  
• secretary - environmental law society