Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Be careful what you ask....

Me:  "So, I applied for this job, and you emailed me back that I was unqualified even though I applied for a similar job last month and you said I was one of the most qualified candidates.  Is there some kind of a mistake?"

Nameless Faceless Government Bureaucrat:  "Oh yes, my apologies.  There was a mistake.  I have gone back and reviewed both applications and regret to inform you that you are actually unqualified for both jobs."

Me:  **crickets**

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Some advice from someone entirely unqualified to give it.

It's kind of weird.  I stopped taking a really active role in this blog a couple of years ago mainly because I'm not sure how to transition a blog about law school into a blog about being a mom and an attorney who doesn't practice and doesn't want to talk about her job and get canned and have to beg on the street...but, I digress.  Anyway, people apparently still google phrases like "law school sucks" and "fuck law school" and "grades don't matter"...and they find my blog.  Weird, I know.  And then, they write me emails asking for advice on how to survive 1L, or getting bad grades (NOOOOOOO...NOT A B-), or not getting a great internship...DOUBLE WEIRD!

I can't believe anyone would ever ask me for advice, about anything.  I've been married three times, my baby eats dirt and worms on a regular basis and spends the better part of her day trying to gnaw through the propane line to the fireplace, and my husband honestly can't believe I've made it this far in life without setting myself on fire or running myself over with a car.  So...yeah.

But, just in case...here's my advice.

It doesn't matter.  I mean, it does matter - but only when it does.  Which is when you're in law school.  People who graduate with BOTTOM 90% GRADES (WHAT???) get jobs every single day.  Good jobs.  If they didn't, then 90% of people who graduate from law school would never get a job and no one would ever take the LSAT again, right?

If you get a B-, no one will kill a kitten, or set an angel on fire, or force you to listen to Justin Bieber on endless replay (unless that's actually something you like, in which case, why are you here?).  I know that because, hey, I got quite a few B-'s.  There, I said it.  I'm in the bottom 90%.

People, the ubiquitous "they," would look askance at my seeming nonchalance over my slightly less than stellar grades.  The thing is, I was bothered.  It's just that I was bothered that anyone thought a grade in a class that had no bearing on my future had anything to with my worth as a person.  I mean, you have to jump through the hoops, and depending on your school, the hoops may be more or less difficult to navigate.  I took Algebra in high school, I respected the fact that it was part of the curriculum, I did my best, I didn't do that great, and I found a way to make a life for myself without Algebra.  The end.

But, ask yourself, does a B- in Corporations matter?  Obviously not, unless you want to be some kind of business attorney, or it's on the bar.  Otherwise...whatever.  And, frankly, if you're into business law, you probably won't get a B- in Corporations anyway.

So.  Relax.  Take a deep breath.  Get a good night's sleep.  Drink a beer...or two...or three.  Take a walk, enjoy time with your friends, study in the way that makes the most sense to you, and remember that approximately three minutes after you graduate, none of it will really matter. Not really.  Being on law review certainly has merit, as does getting fabulous grades, but let's face it...there's the top 10% and the bottom 90%, and so most of us are destined to be at the bottom (BOTTOM 90%...again, WHAT??).

Stand out in the subject that resonates with you.  Find a topic or class that captivates you.  Focus on staying balanced. 

And, really, seriously...have a beer.
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