The Little Things in 1L(ife)

The Little Things in 1L(ife)*

Right about now seems as good a time as any for a 1L to be completely stressed out.  Many of us are sleep deprived (after all, OM2 was just turned in!) and concerned about the impending reality of final exams. When approached with the problem of how to manage all of this stress, one may turn to several different sources. One option is the website connected with Psychology Today, in which an article discussing strategies to remain calm was recently posted. The main ideas involve listening to music and exercising regularly. However, when I no longer have time to listen to music (I can’t have music on when I study) or exercise (the occasional jog at the reservoir is as good as it gets right now), the little things in life get me through.

How the little things in life have helped me through the stress:

Socratic method:

I admit, in Contracts, as the professor reads through the ten students on call for the day, I live in fear for the duration of the list. Yes, I realize everyone is on call at some point, and there is no reason to stress. However, speaking in front of large amounts of people is not a strong point for me, and my brain refuses to come up with any intelligent thoughts when the professor directly addresses me. Regardless, having friends who will assure you that your answer was thoughtful and rational when you are sure you just babbled something about consideration, fraud, and a battle of the forms? A little thing in life that helps out.

OM2:

Apparently, I lack time-management skills (who knew?) and Sunday inevitably turned into an all-nighter. As five AM approached, and my writing was beginning to make even less sense than before, I considered throwing in the towel, accepting the fact that the nuances of citing escape me, and heading home. Instead, I made the decision to stay holed up in a classroom in Stuart, and put in another few hours. This decision was largely due to a night-shift worker in the school surprising my study partner and me with large amounts of coffee. So yes, OM2 can be stressful, but when a stranger surprises you with hot coffee at five AM, things start to look up. A nice gesture from a stranger while writing an essay? One of the little things in life that cheer me up.

And when the little things just aren’t enough to get me through- there is always going back home to celebrate Thanksgiving with the people who knew me back when my biggest concern was when the next Law and Order marathon would come on TV.

* Yes, I copied the 1(L) in the title from 1L(ove). Great idea- couldn’t resist!