Monday, November 8, 2010

It's Time to Stop the Lies

I can't go on like this.  The lies must end.  It's time we tell the 1Ls the truth, guys.  Let's just end the feeling of sickening dread and turn it into panic.

Dear 1Ls:

You know how we keep telling you it gets better?  Well, from this moment onward, it gets worse.  There are 40 days left in the semester, and you had best be gearing up for finals.  Got your outlines done yet?  Have you STARTED your outlines yet?  Because you're going to need those.  Soon.

All that studying you've done all semester, the faithful note-taking, the perfect class attendance?  Hopefully it pays off, because you're about to spend ten hours a day by yourself reviewing for three final exams.  And I know your final LARC assignment is due in two weeks.  So good luck finishing that on top of finishing all of your outlining and note-taking.  (Pro Tip:  Get an external hard drive.  You wouldn't be the first person to lose all of your outlines and papers because of an unexpected hard drive crash.  Back up every two days.  At least.)

Do you know what your personal stress symptoms are?  You're about to.  Stress for me manifests as tightness in my jaw and spreads up the side of my face until I have constant migraines.  I know people who throw up from stress.  So, you know, good luck with that.

And after finals, sure you'll feel "good," but you're going to be so stressed out that even when you start NEXT semester you'll be trying too hard.  And then when you realize how you're going overkill, it'll be too late to slow down and relax a little.

AND THEN if you do well, you'll be on lots of committees and journals, stealing any time that you might have had.  (They don't say 2L: They Work You To Death for nothing.)  And you'll still be stressed because you're under the gun.

So yeah, it gets worse.  Good luck with that.

Love,
Me

P.S.  It's almost over.  You'll survive this, trust me.  Everyone before you has, and many after you will.  It's hard as hell, but you'll be fine if you just stay cool.  I promise.

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