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Extra-curricular activities CAN still be part of your law/grad school life!Apr 11 '00 Write an essay on this topic.LIFE BEYOND THE BOOKS? When I first started law school, I decided not to participate in any extracurricular activities. After all, didn't EVERYONE say that law school is a horrendously hellish experience? However, my first semester ended--after spending nearly every day studying for upwards of 6 hours a day--with average grades and me in a state that can only be described as almost clinically depressed. I was miserable, prone to crying jags, and had lost almost all of my self-esteem. My family and friends were shocked by the change, and in retrospect, I attribute it to the complete denial of mental stimulation. Law school first-year classes were not inspiring, let alone interesting. And this was a dramatic change from my undergrad experiences at UCLA (see the epinion--the first one I wrote!). And when one considers the black/white contrast between my life at Boalt (UC Berkeley's law school) and the very full life I had led at UCLA (plenty of social, political, and community service-oriented activities), the answer is clear when one asks what sparked the personality change. SECOND SEMESTER TURN-AROUND! After receiving my grades, I figured I just wasn't cut out to be a top law student. So I decided to go back to my "old ways" and get involved. When second semester of my first year began, I had a new outlook and joined two law journals, became active in the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, decided to run for a student government position, and went out more often. While my emotional health and social life improved dramatically, it was also ironic to note that my grades did as well. All along, I had thought limiting my extracurricular involvement, and thus increasing the time available for studying, would lead to higher grades. FINAL THOUGHTS... This year, as I near the end of my second year, I find myself finally achieving a nice balance between school work and extracurricular commitments. My grades have improved, my personality/demeanor is once again cheerful and optimistic, and I find that I've made a number of new friends from all the different activities I've participated in. So if there is one point I could make to potential law students--and all grad students, for that matter--I would urge everyone to pursue what makes you feel motivated/inspired. Think about what makes you get out of bed each morning--whether it is playing basketball, painting, participating in school activities, or shopping--and don't forget to save time for that activity when you become a grad/professional student. This may be the only redeeming activity of your day/week/month. Or it may be what helps you maintain your sanity in the hubbub. It worked for me as a high school student, an undergrad, and now as a law student. I only wish I hadn't had to "re-learn" this lesson the hard way.  |
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