I’m Jealous of my Friends and their 9-5 Lives

I have two weeks left of class and 3 big tests coming up.

Now is the time I get a bit burnt out and wish that I lived the 9-5 lifestyle like most of my friends.

After finishing undergrad online and taking my classes pass/fail, it has been a while since I did any strenuous work. It was stressful in other ways.

My summer wasn’t really a summer and then my first semester of law school started sooner than I was prepared for.

From August 11 until now, I have been go go go.

It was really hard being motivated in the beginning of the semester. I was up late studying, and all of my friends were relaxing on the couch, watching tv, and I was studying all day every day.

Once I got into the swing of things and found some friends in my class (6 amazingly smart women btw) I finally felt more motivated.

I also talked about it with my new friends and they said that we would be a lot more jealous if our working friends could actually be going out and having fun, but instead most of our 9-5 friends are still living at home and working remotely. Sad.

I also reminded myself that I have always dreamed of being a lawyer, for as long as I can remember. Literally, the only way I can fulfill my dream is to continue my education and go to school for 3 more years.

Although I’m tired and worn out, I know that this is the only way to get where I want to be in my career.

So yes, I’m still a bit jealous of my friends, especially when school gets stressful, but I think they might be more jealous of me when I graduate in 3 years with a Juris Doctorate and a big salary in the bank.

 

Don’t give up! Remember, if you want it to happen you are going to have to make it happen, even if it takes long nights, tears and missing out on some fun.

 

Shop my outfit below (may contain affiliate links):

I won my First Legal Argument

On Thursday, my professor walked in the room and announced to the entire 44 student class, “You should all thank and congratulate Elizabeth, she just won her first legal argument! Your assignment is now due on the 27^th.”

I won! I asked for an extension for our 4-issue memo, and he gave us 10 extra days.

When he told our class, I burst out laughing and my face turned bright red under my pink mask.

The week before, we turned in an assignment that was promised to be returned to us Saturday morning. We didn’t hear from our professor until this past Monday at 5pm.

The assignment that we turned in was part 1 of a 2-part assignment. Part 2 was supposed to be due tomorrow. So barely a week to write and do research for a 4 issue, probably 30-page memo.

 

This professor and I started off the semester with a very nice relationship. I felt comfortable asking him a ton of questions for my past assignments and I felt very comfortable emailing him to ask to have a meeting and discuss my previous assignments and this new assignment.

He started off the Zoom call by asking how I was, I told him how stressed me and my classmates were because of this current assignment and the 3 other assignments my other professors sprung on us last week.

We then went through my past assignments, that haven’t been graded yet, and discussed how I can do better on this next one.

This assignment has four issues/claims/problems or whatever you want to call them. It is going to be a big paper. I hinted that it would really help us out if we could have a couple of extra days. My professor agreed with me and said he would sleep on it.

I told my friends and they all emailed him as well, asking for an extension; power in numbers my friends!

And then the following morning he walked in and dropped the sweetest news of the week.

 

So, congratulations to me, I won my first legal argument, even if it was just for an extension on a paper.

 

Moral of the story: become friends with your professors, become comfortable asking them questions and asking them for help and if you want something, go get it.

May contain affiliate links:

Apple Picking in Connecticut

Yesterday the Long Island crew headed up to Connecticut to visit my aunt and go apple picking!

We used to go apple picking every single year when I was little, but when life started to get busy in elementary school we stopped going.

This year, since I’m home, we decided to revisit our old tradition and head up north to pick some apples.

The drive up to New England is always so beautiful around this time of year. The leaves are starting to change, and the rolling hills are covered in yellow and orange leaves.

We went back to Blue Jay Orchard, which is where we always used to go. It was HOPPING. There were so many people, but everyone was wearing their masks and socially distancing.

It’s so nice to see so many families and friends gathering outside and supporting small businesses and farms. That’s one small positive of COVID, families are spending more time doing fun outside activities.

Blue Jay Orchard has acres and acres of apples and a big pumpkin patch.

My parents and I bought two bags and picked about 30 apples. 

We walked around for an hour or so and filled our bags with apples.

We found my favorite apples, Macintosh, and Granny Smith deep in the orchard.

We also bought apple cider donuts from their fam store, because how could we not!

I’m so excited for apple pie, apple crumble, apple cider, and fresh cut apples!

I had so much fun and cannot wait to go back next year!

The Importance of Weekends and Doing fun Things

For the first time in my entire school career, I have decided to take a day off during the week.

And you may be thinking: Elizabeth what are you talking about? You only go to school 5 days a week...

Well my friends, for the past 17 years of school (I think I did that math right) I have never taken a day off during the week.

I did homework Monday through Sunday.

This year, I vowed to give myself off ALL DAY on Saturday. That means no homework, no studying, no books, no work, no emails, no nothing, only FUN!

This pandemic taught me to take a break and enjoy life! School is just school. Grades are important but so is enjoying life. I missed out on the rest of my senior year of college due to Covid, with a laundry list of things I still wanted to do. So, I have vowed to myself that I will no longer wait to do fun things. This semester, I have made it a point to do something fun all-day on Saturday. 

 

This has not been easy though, because if you know me, not working one day a week is so hard. I am a workaholic; I can’t help it.

But if I plan out my work and pace myself, like I have been for the whole moth, it’s not bad at all, even as a first-year law student. 

Saturdays are my favorite day of the week now!

We always plan something fun and it gives me something to look forward to especially during my long weeks.

Not doing any work all day on Saturday is so therapeutic. I always feel so refreshed on Sundays after taking a day off. 

I should’ve done this a longggg time ago... then I wouldn’t feel so burnt out all the time.

 

I had such a fun Saturday at my niece’s communion.

Like most things this past spring, her communion was canceled and rescheduled to this past weekend. We had beautiful weather and beautiful company. 

I was so happy to spend my whole day Saturday celebrating her and my family. 

 

This post is your reminder to: take a break, relax, take time to enjoy your life, do fun things!

Even as a super busy 1L student, I am proof that you can take one day off a week.

You will come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

You can thank me later ;)