Lawyering Program

January 30, 2013

By Brittany Medlin

Let’s be honest; you don’t really have much time to read a long narrative describing my Zen thoughts on how to stay mildly sane during the next three weeks. Yet, I encourage you to take a three-minute break and ponder the following:

Any law student will agree with you that exams are stressful, completely overwhelming at times and that getting the illusory “A” is a seemingly impossible feat. BUT, like it or not, they are coming your way, and soon.

Here are my tips on how to best get through the next few weeks:

1. Go to Sky High Sports in Tigard and jump on their trampolines. At least once. It’s the best. I suggest going right after your second exam.
2. Make yourself get dressed in real clothes (sweats, or anything else you might wear to the gym or bed do not count) at least every other day.
3. Forgive yourself if you rely more on convenience foods than your budget or waistline might approve.  You’ve got all of break to work it out/off.
4. Make a plan now for how you are going to celebrate immediately following your last final.
5. Study off campus as much as possible. The library is the stress mecca.
6. Don’t compare study strategies with classmates. Run your own race. There are many different ways to get where you want to go.
7. Visit each of your professors at least once (go in a group, they get busy!). Ask their advice on how to do well on their exam. You’d be amazed at the insight some of them are willing to share.
8. Consider approaching the exams as a combination of Super Mario Brothers and chess. Make sure you get as many of the gold coins as possible along the way, but ultimately you need get to the king.
9. If you have a mentor, ask them to meet for coffee/a drink/a quick meal/whatever.  They can be great in the role of a non-lawschooler who knows EXACTLY how you feel.
10. DO NOT talk about the exam after its over. No one benefits; what’s done is done.

Hopefully, you’ll try at least two of these tips. If my experience is at all reflective of yours, they will make the exam experience a bit more tolerable.

GOOOOOD LUCK! You’re going to do great!

P.S. I’d love to hear (in January) any of your ideas to add the list. Email brittany.medlin@gmail.com. Prizes for the person(s) who does all of mine and the person(s) who suggests additional great ideas.