The 2nd Year They Work You to Death

There is a saying in Law School that goes something like this: "The first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death."

In the interest of agency, however, I would probably change the phrase to: "The first year you let the new experience/workload scare you to death, the second year you choose to work to death, and the third year you decide you just don't care anymore because you already have a job set up."

So really, you only have yourself to blame if the saying is true for you. I have to say that the first year was hard, but the most scared I got was actually before law school started. Once I got there, I realized it wasn't as bad as I had imagined (the perks of being a pessimist).

And then my second year rolls around and suddenly there are so many opportunities open to you: picking your own courses, participating in club leadership positions, membership in co-curriculars such as Law Review, Moot Court, and Trial Advocacy. You are allowed to work the second year, which means you can clerk, TA, or be a research assistant. At this point, you leave your section of friends that were in EVERY SINGLE ONE of your classes last year, and you all start blazing your own path.

It's rather intimidating, come to think of it. I mean, the classes and other opportunities you choose shape your resume which ultimately determines your future! You would think that I came to law school with a specific plan of what I wanted to do, but to be honest, I didn't. The law just offers so many options that it's really hard to choose. Think about it: every aspect of your life can in some way or other be related to law. Family, attending school, religious freedoms, work conditions, everything!

So I haven't really decided yet. I'm hoping more job experience and being exposed to more classes will help me figure it all out.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Dreams Do Come True...

In New Orleans! (And Disneyland)
Tips for a great trip to Vegas to Huntington Beach to Disneyland and back again:

I would highly recommend staying in the MGM Signature hotel. It was the best hotel we stayed in the whole trip. It has a great view, a kitchenette (they even wash your dishes for you!), and no casino.

Huntington Beach is a great option because of its proximity to Disneyland. I would recommend parking in town and walking to the beach. I would also recommend going to Ruby's cafe at the end of the pier. (We saw a real dolphin out the window! *Note: this was an extra, unadvertised, and unplanned perk of eating there- dolphins are not always guaranteed)

Disneyland. Always, always, always use this amazing little app. It saved us sooo much time in line, and we were able to go to all but 6 of the rides between both California Adventure and Disneyland!

For Korean Lovers: Wi Spa. Since Matt loves Korea (see past posts about Korean Valentine's Day) we went to a Korean spa. They have a co-ed area called a "jimjilbang" where you can go to different sauna rooms together. My two favorite were the salt room and the ice room.

On the way back home, make sure you have sufficient gasoline to make it through the mojave desert. Because there are only 2 gas stations. And if there is a wreck on the 2 lane highway, you may be stuck there for 4 hours, moving a total distance of 10 miles. And there may be ridiculous lines for gasoline and the bathroom, due to the unprecedented need of dozens of people.

Happy Vacationing!

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

And They Lived Happily

I got married!!! My reception and wedding was everything I dreamed of, thanks to the efforts of my mom, aunts, and other extended family members. 

My mom made my dress and sash:

My aunt Marilyn made my bouquet:

And numerous others helped decorate the mini cupcakes:

Not to mention all those who helped set up and take down decorations, clean up the chapel, etc. We were so blessed. 

THANK YOU ALL!!
Rebekah

Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew

My fiancee and I have started reading the Chronicles of Narnia series together! It was one of my favorites growing up, and I often feel that most of the books are overlooked because everyone focuses on "the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." 

But for anyone with a sense of adventure and a desire to learn more about the background of Narnia, I would highly recommend "the Magician's Nephew."

Just as "the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" contains Christian symbolism (specifically, the atonement of Christ), "the Magician's Nephew" contains symbolism about the Creation. All of the books in the series have children as main characters, which I love because of their perspective, and I think C.S. Lewis nails the dialogue and personalities. It's been great to read aloud.

But you don't have to take my word for it!

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

Earring Update!

A good friend showed me how to make this awesome earring organizer using wire and a picture frame! I also used the back mat of the frame to organize my studs. Don't they look great??

I got the frame at Walmart, which made it easy to pop the glass out. We stuck the wire in between the mat and the frame in the back, although I need to reinforce it with glue so the wires can stay in. 

A small nail and hammer solved the problem for the studs. 

Thanks to Chalyce for showing me how!!

Rhetorically,
Rebekah

How to Write a Best Selling Fantasy Novel

Years ago, I came across this lovely little article called "How to Write a Best Selling Fantasy Novel." I thought I'd pass along the advice:

Ever since "The Lord of the Rings", epic fantasy novels have been high on the bestseller list. Every thought of writing one?

WELL HERE'S HOW.

1. Create a main character.Most of the people who read your book will be unconfident males. So make your main character a Loser. Aimless, shy, cowardly, guilty, ill, lazy, rural - any of these will do.

2. Create a Quest.
Out of the blue, the Loser must be suddenly told that the fate of the whole world – or some other world - rests in his incompetent hands. To save the world he must perform some task, confront some nameless foe, learn some mysterious skill etc.

3. Create a Motley Bunch of Companions.The Loser/Hero must have a Motley Bunch of Companions drawn from different human species e.g. dwarf, elf, Rotarian etc. Each of these companions will have one particular skill such as sword fighting, lasso twirling etc which will come in handy at a particular part of the story. Click here for the full article.

Personal Statement

Three years ago, I decided to apply to law school. One of the first tasks I discovered was writing a Personal Statement. After extensive research, I found a concise list of "don'ts" for writing a personal statement:

1. Do not focus upon your weaknesses. 2. Do not “write like a lawyer.” 3. Do not solely discuss why you want to be a lawyer. 4. Avoid a boring introduction that loses the reader’s attention. 5. Do not use clichés, slang, or contractions. 6. Avoid controversial issues. 7. Do not reiterate your academic accomplishments. 8. Do not write about a romance. 9. Do not sound arrogant. 10. Do not use the words, “And at that moment I knew…” (bonus: 11. make sure the statement you send reflects a basic knowledge of the college you are applying to)

Feeling ambitious, I decided that along with writing my own personal statement (presumably my best work), I would also attempt to write the worst personal statement possible.
Disclaimer: associations to real people are coincidental and accidental. The views in this personal statement do not reflect my own.

--

At the tender age of five, I knew I was destined to be a lawyer. I constantly argued with the other children about property rights, religious rights, and other rights. I became the best known orator of my time, according to all the kids that I talked to. I became obsessed with Harvard and other ivy league schools after seeing the classic "Legally Blonde." It was from this movie and other reliable media sources that I picked up Latin at the tender age of eight.

I don't quite know where my greatness came from. Most likely I gained it in utero ("in the womb," for those who aren't fluent in the romantic languages). My father always dreamed of being a lawyer. It was he who helped me get my name changed. I'm not sure how he got to see a judge that quickly, but he was always very good with money. I've always assumed he paid extra to get the court date bumped up. Because of my obsession with law, I wanted a name that truly represented my passions. Thus, I changed my name from Jane Wilkinson to Lora Anne Wilkinson (LAW). I feel that this alone gives the the uniqueness and diversity that so many law schools strive for. This moment was a defining one in my life, and I feel that it shows my strength, depth of character, and attention to detail. At that moment I knew that once I fulfilled my dream and entered law school, I would be capable of saving the world.

Of course, my life hasn't always been that easy. I spent most of my junior high years sobbing hysterically because of the verbal abuse I received from my teachers, most of which told me that my work was not at an "A" level, and that if I paid more attention in class, I might do better. They clearly would not know a true genius if it slapped them in the face. But, I found it in my heart to forgive them. As the legal phrase goes, "Errare humanum est" (To err is human). I now have quite good relations with all my teachers--I send the school a card every year, letting them know how much I have improved academically.

Leadership has always come naturally to me. I remember when I got my first pony, and how I trained it without any prior experience. I was able to transfer this leadership to other areas on my life, like when I took the lead in cabbages for 4H. This was a very controversial topic at the time, because many illegal immigrants also entered the contest. I blame the poor fortification of our borders for the fact that I only received a second prize that day.

My life took a turn for the worse that year when I was unjustly dumped by my boyfriend. However, after some intense therapy I overcame my anger. I now only occasionally plan revenge, and I have not acted upon any of these plans for the past six months. This self restraint is something that any lawyer should possess. Through channeling my freed up energy, I was able to graduate with high honors from the Wilkinson Academy (run by my mother, who was a certified teacher at one time in her life).

In conclusion, while I have had many trials in my life, I have overcome them all and developed the leadership, academic, and social skills needed to be a successful lawyer. I hope to go to Harvard because it is in England, and I've always wanted to study out of the country. Thank you.


Rhetorically,
Rebekah