Three Minutes
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Make a plan now for how you are going to celebrate immediately following your last final.
- Study off campus as much as possible. The library is the stress mecca.
- Don’t compare study strategies with classmates. Run your own race. There are many different ways to get where you want to go.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
