i am terrible at blogging. sorry.
my first year of law school is over. THAT IS CRAZY. my second batch of exams was not as good as my first, and it kind of kicked my butt. i dont want to feel that again, so i am feeling motivated to stay more on top of things in the future. (don't worry guys, i still did pretty good.)
i am currently in galway, ireland, coming to the end of my second of six weeks. i am taking summer classes at the national university's irish centre for human rights, which is awesome. i am learning lots about international law, treaties, human rights movements, and the sneaky ways countries get around all of it. it is interesting, but intense. over the next week i am going to have to write 18 pages of exams- yipes!
ireland is a pretty cool place. literally, it is cold. today is a typical day- rainy and gray. but the irish people are hilarious and gracious and wonderful, and it really is as green as they say.
i have to be honest, i am struggling a bit with some things. physically i cant keep up with everyone as getting around means walking walking walking walking. its embarrassing to have to take breaks or go slow, and i dont want to inconvenience anyone else. so i have kind of been keeping to myself. i have made some understanding friends, which is encouraging, and i have been a little social. but i am pretty sure this is my breaking point, and when i get home i have to make some changes. i know this is ridiculous and i am not really old and blah blah blah, but i am genuinely almost 30 and i want to enter my 30s being healthy. clearly, i have been unable to do this alone, so i am going to have to just suck it up and open myself to community to help me stay on track, physically, emotionally, and spiritually (i'm looking at you, kim and sivyers). so that has given me some anxiety here and made me question if i should have come at all. but i tend to do that, so i try to ignore myself.
i have been posting photos on facebook, so people who actually read this (if anyone! i have no illusions) are most likely my "friends" and can see them there. tomorrow we are going to the cliffs of moher, so hopefully if i can keep up, dramatic scenery pictures will follow.
bail o dhia ort. slan leat! (that means "the blessing of God on you. good bye!" in irish. it is a crazy, crazy language. dont even try to say it, none of the sounds are pronounced as they look. a lot of people actually speak it in this part of ireland.)
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
second semester
i made it through one semester of law school.
i even made dean's honors. (hooray!)
this semester is harder. i am having a hard time with my time management. and focus. as an example- i am in contracts class right now. i got cold called at the beginning of class and had to describe a case, so after that terrifying experience, i am mentally checked out.
i am trying to build in time for friends this semester. i have done an ok job, but it is only the first week of february. i need to be held accountable to this.
i am working towards studying in europe for the summer. hoping for ireland, but maybe france. we will see.
have you watched downton abbey? it is so good!
i even made dean's honors. (hooray!)
this semester is harder. i am having a hard time with my time management. and focus. as an example- i am in contracts class right now. i got cold called at the beginning of class and had to describe a case, so after that terrifying experience, i am mentally checked out.
i am trying to build in time for friends this semester. i have done an ok job, but it is only the first week of february. i need to be held accountable to this.
i am working towards studying in europe for the summer. hoping for ireland, but maybe france. we will see.
have you watched downton abbey? it is so good!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
week 10
it's been a while. i've been busy.
i am now midway through my 10th week of law school. it is still quite bizarre to me that i am here. midterms turned out well, but finals are already looming. ack!
trying to find a balance between schoolwork and rest is difficult. i love being so close to st. augustine, but it feels really far away most days.
i am thankful for little lifelines. quick chats with brittany. notes on my car from amy. a message from allison checking in. and i am going to hug kim in less than a month! these things are sustaining through the hours and hours of reading and thinking and listening and writing that i do each week for classes.
so that's me. sorry if i tend to be a little overwhelmed and even a bit negative nellie if you ask me how i am. law school is crazy town, and this is the part i just need to get through. ask me on december 10. i will have only good things to say.
i am now midway through my 10th week of law school. it is still quite bizarre to me that i am here. midterms turned out well, but finals are already looming. ack!
trying to find a balance between schoolwork and rest is difficult. i love being so close to st. augustine, but it feels really far away most days.
i am thankful for little lifelines. quick chats with brittany. notes on my car from amy. a message from allison checking in. and i am going to hug kim in less than a month! these things are sustaining through the hours and hours of reading and thinking and listening and writing that i do each week for classes.
so that's me. sorry if i tend to be a little overwhelmed and even a bit negative nellie if you ask me how i am. law school is crazy town, and this is the part i just need to get through. ask me on december 10. i will have only good things to say.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
A Long Overdue Update...
So, last time we spoke (although hopefully I have actually spoken to you between now and then), I was freaking out about where to go to law school. Long story short, I am now sitting in my apartment in Jacksonville after having worked most of the day to prepare for my first week of classes at Florida Coastal. Decision made and executed!
I ultimately decided to wait until FCSL's deadline, and if I hadn't heard from FSU by then, I would just commit. And it was the right decision, because I still haven't heard from FSU. (I might still, since they don't start classes until the end of the month, but too bad so sad for them, because they missed out on me!)
I definitely am confident in my decision. I spoke to Brittany not long after I made the leap, and was able to finally articulate what I have been thinking- I know that law school is expensive. But I also know that God calls us to sometimes make sacrifices to follow him, and I feel like the sacrifice I am being called to make is financial. Yeah, I am taking on some debt. But it takes school to go into the fields I am praying about, and school takes money. Plus, since it all belongs to him anyway, it isn't so much my debt as the re-allocation of resources. ;)
So I am ecstatic to be back in North Florida and have never been more excited to go to church in the morning. Yay Coquina! And it does my heart good to be back with my favorite family, the Sivyers. Classes start Monday, and I am feeling ready to begin. I know that it is going to be CRAZY, I have been told over and over that I will have no life and will be stressed out and frustrated, but I know that there is a larger purpose.
I was thinking last night about the women's prison in Haiti, and was overwhelmed by the fact that most of those women are probably still in that filthy, rat-infested place. (For the post I wrote right after I visited, click here.) So much has changed for me in the past year, but nothing has changed for them. I will never forget what it felt like for me, a rich white girl who has had every opportunity in the world, to stand in that place. I know now that it was a point of no return for me. I could not walk out of the gate the same. The way I was living my life was no longer enough. Teaching is incredible, and I am so thankful to have so many caring, wonderful people in my life who are called to it, but I think that God brought me to that prison to push me out of my "comfort zone" and into something a bit more dangerous. I almost feel like I am carrying some little piece of their burden, and I certainly don't mean to sound trite, as nothing I have ever or will ever experience is even close to what they are. So not burden, maybe it is more responsibility, that I will take the ridiculous blessings life has afforded me and spread them around.
This is definitely rambly and a bit stream of consciousness. But I think it is the best I can do at the moment, as I have spent all day reading legalese about Property and Contracts and Torts, and my brain is a little more than scrambled. :)
So pictures. These are mostly for my mom, who with my dad were ONCE AGAIN AMAZINGLY GRACIOUS ENOUGH to help me move. 8 moves in 8 years is a lot to ask! Unfortunately they had to head back up to Tennessee before my place was truly settled, and I know that she wants to know that I have a little home here. But I figured maybe others would like to see them too. That way you know what to expect when you all come visit me. :)
Here's my living room. I have a lovely view of a retention pond, and yes, there are already pretzel M&Ms on the coffee table. I am allowed one bag a month. And they will be savored.
The view into my little kitchen. Notice my best friend altar? :)
Here is my amazing couch I got for a steal! And all the roommates I have had will recognize my artwork. What can I say? I love Cary Grant!
My place is a one bedroom, with plenty of space for just me. Never fear, this is not the only bookshelf.
Why yes, this is the shelf that both (a) cost more than anything else in my apartment and (b) will CONSUME MY LIFE for the next few months!
My little bathroom. You can see in the mirror my lovely Patty Springfield art on the wall. Love indeed!
A close-up because she is that amazing. :)
And here's my room. My lamp looks like it is exploding. I promise it isn't. It matches the one on the other side, just a bit bigger.
Alternate view
One of my FREE! pieces of furniture received through the blessing of Amy Lane's connections! Amy and I knew each other in high school, and I seem to be following her through life. She attended Flagler before me, was a member at one of the founding Coquina churches, and just finished her first year at FCSL. She has already been a HUGE help and encouragement, and I am so thankful!
So yesterday Brittany brought the boys up to my place to do some swimming. I quickly learned what knick-knacks were in Ezra's reach to prepare for next time. :)
What a sweet face!
Gabe really was happy and great 99% of the morning, but a skinned knee and not wanting to come in resulted in this very sad face.
It turns out the trick to keeping kids from destroying the room is putting Yo Gabba Gabba on tv. Yep, I am going to totally be that bad aunt that lets them watch tv. :)
There you go. I am here, I am maybe ready, and don't be surprised if I continue to be a very spotty blogger.
I also owe lots of people on my subscriber list phone calls. I promise, I haven't forgotten you! :)
I ultimately decided to wait until FCSL's deadline, and if I hadn't heard from FSU by then, I would just commit. And it was the right decision, because I still haven't heard from FSU. (I might still, since they don't start classes until the end of the month, but too bad so sad for them, because they missed out on me!)
I definitely am confident in my decision. I spoke to Brittany not long after I made the leap, and was able to finally articulate what I have been thinking- I know that law school is expensive. But I also know that God calls us to sometimes make sacrifices to follow him, and I feel like the sacrifice I am being called to make is financial. Yeah, I am taking on some debt. But it takes school to go into the fields I am praying about, and school takes money. Plus, since it all belongs to him anyway, it isn't so much my debt as the re-allocation of resources. ;)
So I am ecstatic to be back in North Florida and have never been more excited to go to church in the morning. Yay Coquina! And it does my heart good to be back with my favorite family, the Sivyers. Classes start Monday, and I am feeling ready to begin. I know that it is going to be CRAZY, I have been told over and over that I will have no life and will be stressed out and frustrated, but I know that there is a larger purpose.
I was thinking last night about the women's prison in Haiti, and was overwhelmed by the fact that most of those women are probably still in that filthy, rat-infested place. (For the post I wrote right after I visited, click here.) So much has changed for me in the past year, but nothing has changed for them. I will never forget what it felt like for me, a rich white girl who has had every opportunity in the world, to stand in that place. I know now that it was a point of no return for me. I could not walk out of the gate the same. The way I was living my life was no longer enough. Teaching is incredible, and I am so thankful to have so many caring, wonderful people in my life who are called to it, but I think that God brought me to that prison to push me out of my "comfort zone" and into something a bit more dangerous. I almost feel like I am carrying some little piece of their burden, and I certainly don't mean to sound trite, as nothing I have ever or will ever experience is even close to what they are. So not burden, maybe it is more responsibility, that I will take the ridiculous blessings life has afforded me and spread them around.
This is definitely rambly and a bit stream of consciousness. But I think it is the best I can do at the moment, as I have spent all day reading legalese about Property and Contracts and Torts, and my brain is a little more than scrambled. :)
So pictures. These are mostly for my mom, who with my dad were ONCE AGAIN AMAZINGLY GRACIOUS ENOUGH to help me move. 8 moves in 8 years is a lot to ask! Unfortunately they had to head back up to Tennessee before my place was truly settled, and I know that she wants to know that I have a little home here. But I figured maybe others would like to see them too. That way you know what to expect when you all come visit me. :)
Here's my living room. I have a lovely view of a retention pond, and yes, there are already pretzel M&Ms on the coffee table. I am allowed one bag a month. And they will be savored.
The view into my little kitchen. Notice my best friend altar? :)
Here is my amazing couch I got for a steal! And all the roommates I have had will recognize my artwork. What can I say? I love Cary Grant!
My place is a one bedroom, with plenty of space for just me. Never fear, this is not the only bookshelf.
Why yes, this is the shelf that both (a) cost more than anything else in my apartment and (b) will CONSUME MY LIFE for the next few months!
My little bathroom. You can see in the mirror my lovely Patty Springfield art on the wall. Love indeed!
A close-up because she is that amazing. :)
And here's my room. My lamp looks like it is exploding. I promise it isn't. It matches the one on the other side, just a bit bigger.
Alternate view
One of my FREE! pieces of furniture received through the blessing of Amy Lane's connections! Amy and I knew each other in high school, and I seem to be following her through life. She attended Flagler before me, was a member at one of the founding Coquina churches, and just finished her first year at FCSL. She has already been a HUGE help and encouragement, and I am so thankful!
So yesterday Brittany brought the boys up to my place to do some swimming. I quickly learned what knick-knacks were in Ezra's reach to prepare for next time. :)
What a sweet face!
Gabe really was happy and great 99% of the morning, but a skinned knee and not wanting to come in resulted in this very sad face.
It turns out the trick to keeping kids from destroying the room is putting Yo Gabba Gabba on tv. Yep, I am going to totally be that bad aunt that lets them watch tv. :)
There you go. I am here, I am maybe ready, and don't be surprised if I continue to be a very spotty blogger.
I also owe lots of people on my subscriber list phone calls. I promise, I haven't forgotten you! :)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
so here's the situation.
:: i have been praying about and working towards law school for the fall.
:: i was accepted into florida coastal, but it is SUPER EXPENSIVE.
:: my housing option that would make that somewhat affordable has fallen through.
:: i have been put on a wait list for fsu, and will find out if i am in anywhere from monday to august 24 (5 days before classes start!)
:: i have to put a nonrefundable $400 deposit for my spot at florida coastal down by june 15.
so there you go. i am trying not to freak out, but not doing a very good job at it. would you mind praying for me? i am feeling the need for clarity, wisdom, and peace, and finding those things very hard to find.
BLARG.
:: i was accepted into florida coastal, but it is SUPER EXPENSIVE.
:: my housing option that would make that somewhat affordable has fallen through.
:: i have been put on a wait list for fsu, and will find out if i am in anywhere from monday to august 24 (5 days before classes start!)
:: i have to put a nonrefundable $400 deposit for my spot at florida coastal down by june 15.
so there you go. i am trying not to freak out, but not doing a very good job at it. would you mind praying for me? i am feeling the need for clarity, wisdom, and peace, and finding those things very hard to find.
BLARG.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Good News!
I have been accepted to law school! I have been applying to schools all over the place, and have been anxiously awaiting word. I didn't get in to a couple of places, but it was ok because they were random schools that I applied to just because there were no fees.
Honestly, even though I wasn't sad about these particular schools, I kind of started freaking out. What if I didn't get in anywhere? I had no Plan B. I just knew that I couldn't stay here another year, both because I didn't want to lose my Florida state residency and because working 7 days a week and not having a church community is KILLING me.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to apply to Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. I hadn't really thought about it because they do not have the dual degree programs that I want. I ultimately decided to because the first year at the state schools I looked at I would just take law courses anyway, and it is easier to transfer into state programs than to get in initially. I figured it would be a good "insurance" policy, if I got in, that is.
Well, I did! And I was offered a substantial scholarship as well. I am still waiting to hear from FSU, but at least I know now that even if FSU turns me down for this year, I have a spot in law school! And better yet, it is a law school very close to many of my favorite people!
I am really excited, but also really overwhelmed. I am about to commit to a path that is, frankly, pretty scary. But I definitely feel called to this, and am eager to begin.
Meanwhile, I will be in St. Augustine next weekend! I arrive late Thursday night and will leave Monday morning. Yay! I CANNOT WAIT to hug every one of those Sivyers (even you, Steve!) and to worship with my Coquina family. Rumor has it that Judith is planning a soiree, and the 2011 Fruit of the Summer just may be revealed...
Honestly, even though I wasn't sad about these particular schools, I kind of started freaking out. What if I didn't get in anywhere? I had no Plan B. I just knew that I couldn't stay here another year, both because I didn't want to lose my Florida state residency and because working 7 days a week and not having a church community is KILLING me.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to apply to Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. I hadn't really thought about it because they do not have the dual degree programs that I want. I ultimately decided to because the first year at the state schools I looked at I would just take law courses anyway, and it is easier to transfer into state programs than to get in initially. I figured it would be a good "insurance" policy, if I got in, that is.
Well, I did! And I was offered a substantial scholarship as well. I am still waiting to hear from FSU, but at least I know now that even if FSU turns me down for this year, I have a spot in law school! And better yet, it is a law school very close to many of my favorite people!
I am really excited, but also really overwhelmed. I am about to commit to a path that is, frankly, pretty scary. But I definitely feel called to this, and am eager to begin.
Meanwhile, I will be in St. Augustine next weekend! I arrive late Thursday night and will leave Monday morning. Yay! I CANNOT WAIT to hug every one of those Sivyers (even you, Steve!) and to worship with my Coquina family. Rumor has it that Judith is planning a soiree, and the 2011 Fruit of the Summer just may be revealed...
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Drum Roll Please...
So... I got my score! I got a 158, which for this test was in the 75th percentile. I am not terribly pleased, but I am not terribly upset either. Let me break it down:
Good: The 75th percentile is the cut-off for a lot of scholarships, and it certainly is not a shabby score. I have already received emails from several schools who think I may be a good fit with my score, my GPA, and my demographic info. So that's good. Also, a 158 means that at FSU, I won't have to take the GRE, which is HUGE. And for someone who has been out of school for 4 years and hasn't taken a standardized test in longer than that, not too shabby.
Bad: This score doesn't really set me apart from others. I was really hoping to break 160. I probably won't get into UF with this score, which is the school closest to St. Augustine. :(
So, a mixed bag. More good than bad though, so I am ok with it. Now I am working on my essays and finishing up my applications. More to come later...
Good: The 75th percentile is the cut-off for a lot of scholarships, and it certainly is not a shabby score. I have already received emails from several schools who think I may be a good fit with my score, my GPA, and my demographic info. So that's good. Also, a 158 means that at FSU, I won't have to take the GRE, which is HUGE. And for someone who has been out of school for 4 years and hasn't taken a standardized test in longer than that, not too shabby.
Bad: This score doesn't really set me apart from others. I was really hoping to break 160. I probably won't get into UF with this score, which is the school closest to St. Augustine. :(
So, a mixed bag. More good than bad though, so I am ok with it. Now I am working on my essays and finishing up my applications. More to come later...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
In the year 2000...
(For those in the know, the title is a reference to one of my favorite Conan skits. Youtube it. Hilarious.)
Onward and upward we go. First, some background.
So most of you probably know that for a while, I was hoping/ planning on getting my Master's in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. I visited, took a prereq Economics class, and was making the plans to move. Through my cousins, I got a job interview with Campus Crusade, and my plan was to move, work for the year, and then start school this fall. I was super pumped!
Well, I didn't get the job. And the whole thing was more than a little shady. And all of my desire to go to MN just vanished. I once again found myself floundering.
Right about this time, the Sivyers were in Nashville for Steve's sister's wedding, so I went over and hung out a couple of days. (As an aside, let me just say that it was GLORIOUS. I can't express in words how desperately I miss them!) At one point, Steve was asking me what was happening with school and he said "What exactly is your goal with all of this? What are you wanting to do?"
That, my friends, is the question of the year. Because... I am not quite sure. I do know that I want to work somewhere in the public service/ non-profit world. I do know that I am really interested specifically in how the church interacts with social justice issues, along with secular institutions. I do know that when I have worked in these areas (Brussels, Port-au-Prince), I have been encouraged and passionate and felt that my strengths are an asset. I also know that I am keenly aware and interested in slavery/ human trafficking. There's gotta be a career in all that jumble, right?
So then Steve said, "Why don't you go to law school?"
HELLO!!! How had I not thought of this before? For anyone wanting to go into any kind of public service job, law is a great general degree. Steve is a man of many opinions and suggestions, some of which are crazy :), but this one hit the head right on the mark. I started researching and found several programs where I could, in 4 years instead of 5, get a law degree as well as a Master's in areas like Public Administration, International Relations, etc, which would be of use since I am wanting to work with international organizations.
So I am taking the LSAT on Saturday. Yipes! I have been studying, and feel ok about it, but STILL. It is only offered 4 times a year, so if I don't do well on this one, I won't be able to start in the fall. NO PRESSURE, SARAH.
I am looking specifically at three schools. In no particular order:
1)
2)
3)
These are not set in stone, however. I get emails from law schools all over daily, and I have been checking them out. So we will see!!
Please pray for me as I move through this process. I am super nervous about it, and my default when I get that way is to be stagnant and do nothing, which really doesn't help anything. I am eager to see where I end up this fall!
Onward and upward we go. First, some background.
So most of you probably know that for a while, I was hoping/ planning on getting my Master's in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. I visited, took a prereq Economics class, and was making the plans to move. Through my cousins, I got a job interview with Campus Crusade, and my plan was to move, work for the year, and then start school this fall. I was super pumped!
Well, I didn't get the job. And the whole thing was more than a little shady. And all of my desire to go to MN just vanished. I once again found myself floundering.
Right about this time, the Sivyers were in Nashville for Steve's sister's wedding, so I went over and hung out a couple of days. (As an aside, let me just say that it was GLORIOUS. I can't express in words how desperately I miss them!) At one point, Steve was asking me what was happening with school and he said "What exactly is your goal with all of this? What are you wanting to do?"
That, my friends, is the question of the year. Because... I am not quite sure. I do know that I want to work somewhere in the public service/ non-profit world. I do know that I am really interested specifically in how the church interacts with social justice issues, along with secular institutions. I do know that when I have worked in these areas (Brussels, Port-au-Prince), I have been encouraged and passionate and felt that my strengths are an asset. I also know that I am keenly aware and interested in slavery/ human trafficking. There's gotta be a career in all that jumble, right?
So then Steve said, "Why don't you go to law school?"
HELLO!!! How had I not thought of this before? For anyone wanting to go into any kind of public service job, law is a great general degree. Steve is a man of many opinions and suggestions, some of which are crazy :), but this one hit the head right on the mark. I started researching and found several programs where I could, in 4 years instead of 5, get a law degree as well as a Master's in areas like Public Administration, International Relations, etc, which would be of use since I am wanting to work with international organizations.
So I am taking the LSAT on Saturday. Yipes! I have been studying, and feel ok about it, but STILL. It is only offered 4 times a year, so if I don't do well on this one, I won't be able to start in the fall. NO PRESSURE, SARAH.
I am looking specifically at three schools. In no particular order:
1)
2)
3)
These are not set in stone, however. I get emails from law schools all over daily, and I have been checking them out. So we will see!!
Please pray for me as I move through this process. I am super nervous about it, and my default when I get that way is to be stagnant and do nothing, which really doesn't help anything. I am eager to see where I end up this fall!
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