Mary Newton

Chicken Scratch

Over the past 6 weeks I have been enlightened with the answer to the perplexing question:

Why do all doctors have such terrible writing?

It's because they don't have time to write, resulting in lines, scribbles, and random dots.

My handwriting has gone nothing but downhill since I started school -- I guess I could also blame that on all the typing I do. I better start working on making my handwriting look legible again.

I'm Sorry, What Does THAT mean?

Pi signs, triangles, squiggly S's, COWS???

What do all these symbols mean? Why do they end up on the board as if the professor thinks I understand what they are?

This is what I felt like the first week or so of classes. It didn't take me too long to understand, but when I saw pi signs and triangle/delta signs written all over the board for the first time, I was puzzled, to say the least. I thought I was done with math (in high school...). I soon figured out the the PI sign stands for Plaintiff and the triangle stands for Defendant. The squiggly S? "Section." The cow? Well, it's just a cow -- and it comes up in just about every contracts class. At least my professor makes me them look adorable.

Hey, I'll sell you my cow someday... ;)(Don't think we have a contract, because we don't. :) )

When you start law school, most of your teachers will expect you to understand and know things that well, you just don't or won't know. It can be very frustrating, but if you stick with it and ask questions (don't worry, they don't bite -- or at least they shouldn't), you'll be fine. :) Three out of four of my professors do not use the Socratic Method, which is a relief and actually encourages me to speak up in class. However, I find that because I sit in the front of my contracts class and often look the professor in the eye (the one that teaches by the Socratic Method), I get picked on more frequently than most of the class. Even if I say something stupid, at least I'm getting the experience of being embarrassed in front of a lot of people. It can only make me stronger...at least, that's how I see it.

Speaking of which, it's time for some more COW stories! Happy weekend to everyone!

Gross...

Nasty... There is a guy sitting next to me in the library that put chewing tobacco on his gums and is now picking up an empty water bottle every 5 second to spit it out. It's grossing me out and distracting me. And contracts is actually getting quite interesting, despite the 30 some pages we have to read every night.

Back to studying. I'm just going to turn the other way, now.

Two Weeks in and...

I was thankful for my labor day weekend because I was able to spend a little more time enjoying life and being with my boyfriend (and watching UT beat Arkansas State).

But, after two weeks of law school, I have had some time to get into a routine and figure out exactly what it is I'm doing and what I'm getting myself into.

I was talking to one of my classmates this morning before Torts class and ended up asking her if she wanted to be my study buddy. I made a promise to myself this weekend that I would find someone to talk to about class lectures and materials so that I know I'm not totally in the dark on some of this stuff. In the midst of our conversation, I said that since I was "this tall" (meaning very young), I have been told that the first year of law school is, in the words of my father, "the worst year of your life." I've been told this for as long as I can remember because both my parents are lawyers. Now, to this, she said, "Wow, I'm surprised to see you here. I'd think that after knowing what it's like, most people wouldn't want to go through this kind of hell."

I agreed, but I told her that something about the prospect of law school (and the fact that I enjoy learning and being challenged) really intrigues me. Something about the demand the occupation puts on you, the fact that it will rarely (if ever) ask me to sit idly at my desk for an extended amount of time (which, from my experience last year, I learned that I really don't like at all), and the excitement that the law is always changing, which means that I will always be learning something new.

Law school is extremely demanding -- I won't deny that. I'm taking 14 hours, with three core courses (torts, civil procedure, and contracts) and a legal writing class. The writing hasn't started yet and I'm already spending my days reading, outlining, and briefing -- I can only imagine how busy I will be when the writing and researching does start. But you know what? Bring it on because, like my Mom always tells us, "you gotta start in order to finish."

Now, back to work on civil procedure. Dad tells me to bring a pillow and a bottle of wine to class. I don't have either, so I'm better off arming myself with knowledge of Rules 11 and 15 of Civil Procedure. :)

Oh, and here's my favorite picture from the weekend (which I spent in Austin): HOOK 'EM!