Jill summed up the situation in class today:
Jill: “I don’t know why I came to class today. I have so much to do that just sitting here stresses me out.
Amen.
Passing my 1L sectionmates follows this script:
Me: “Hey! Haven’t seen you in forever!
Jack: “So busy 3L year is! What the hey?!”
Me: “Oh yeah, I’m super swamped too.”
Jack: “I know right? Time to jet! Late for thisandthat!”
Me: “Bye cupcake!”
What happened to the boring, stress-free 3L year we were promised?
Class feels like a huge time suck that gets in the way of the work that I am actually graded on, and yet I have not missed a single class all semester.
My classes are assignment-based, not finals based. So going to class only adds to that vague “participation” part of the final grade.
I attend class because I usually have an assignment to turn in. I am not a big skipper anyway, but sitting in my lectures feels like I’m procrastinating. I know my focus should be on learning and discussion, but these goals are not very compelling when the amount that I learn doesn’t necessarily show up on my transcript.
The tax clinic creates a nagging sense of urgency. There’s always a fax to pick-up or a phone call to be returned. Someone’s account gets levied, someone else can’t stick to her IRS payment plan, and I’m playing phone tag with appeals officers.
Real people are waiting on me, but the clinic is just 3-credits among others and the dogs need to be walked… I guess that’s lawyering?
My solution to this swamped situation is to hunker down and get a week ahead. Maybe I can actually enjoy sitting in class again once I drain this swamp. Where’s my bucket?
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