First 3 weeks

I am here in Vermillion South Dakota attending USD School of Law, writing this blog from my already too familiar carrell (desk for those none laws - yeah I didnt know either, lol) on a Friday night. So let's recap the last few weeks shall we, for posterity's sake anyway.

Week 1:
I arrive early and am soon swarmed with the rest of the nervous mass. We mingle for a bit and then recieve our marching orders and welcome packages. The schedule for the week is not at all like an orientation week in undergrad. we have actual classes that attempt to prep us in some rudimentary manner for what will soon follow. There are numerous meet and greets with staff and it becomes apparent fairly quickly that this is not at all what I had anticipated. The Dean, who later in the week invites the whole 1L class to his house for dinner, is a very welcoming and pleasant personality as is the vice dean. The staff are all quite cordial and encouraging. I thought that from reading the various books, if you are contemplating law school in any serious fashion you know which ones, regarding law school life that things would be considerably different. Don't get me wrong though, the expectation is that there will be a lot of work and there is even for an orientation week, but I kept going back to what one of the professors said "We believe you all can graduate or we wouldn't have chose you." She is a fantastic lady and has proved initially to be very good at what she does. We have several meet and greets with local lawyers who put on luch service for all the 1Ls and it is surely meant to be a snapshot of what is to come. I find myself quite tired by the weeks end, but assignments are due for the first classes on Monday and I proceed to spend almost 18 hours working on the next weeks workload. Oh did I mention that I did all that was required of me using my android phone because my financial aid doesnt disburse until the following monday - so I must wait for a lap top, good times :-)

Lesson: Culture shock! Be prepared for it.

Week 2:
Honestly it is a blur. I find myself, along with many others questioning my decision to attend. I am missing my boys who are back home with my new ex-wife. There is that gripping feeling of homesickness and frankly a fleeting moment of returning. I guess driving 1900 miles out here from Maine was worth more than just having a vehicle to use while here because the thought of driving back home is quite the deterrent. I find myself lost trying to read and do case briefs. I had this grand notion of reading all summer long and getting my reading speed up to par, but that was lost in all the happenings of my summer "festivities" from hell. so now I am thrust into the mix and it takes me an average of 1 hour and 15 minutes to do a brief. Seriously? I am struggling initially to follow most of whats going on, but the professors are doing a great job at not launching us at full speed. As a teacher I recognize the build up that is there, even if not by design I am thankful for it. I have met some wonderful people from all walks of life, and I can honestly say they are some of the nicest folks. There is less competition at this point and I am hopeful it will remain that way, as a matter of fact most of the students are quite helpful. There are quite a few Non-traditional students here as well. Way more than I had anticipated. That is helpful to say the least. I am doing a good job with getting names down, but being the only one from Maine I think I stick out like a sore thumb hahaha. Wicked! Lots of strange looks, and what made you choose here. then I go down through my condensed reasoning - generally centering on money and ratio. I have had the pleasure of discovering a local watering hole that seems quite exclusive to law school and with the help of my newly found friends from Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota (ay) and North Dakoda (ay) we proceed to unwind in fine fashion. Twice that week. Buy your return flight tickets early, because the price will definately not improve hahaha.

Lesson: homesickness and self doubt will happen if you travel away from family - even for those older students.

Week 3:
My reading speed has increased - you have no idea how great that actually is (I was quite concerned that I might have had some long lost learning disability that went undiagnosed). I am able to focus a bit more although I am still dealing with seperation from my boys and other recent events and the material is starting to make more sense to me. I am starting to enjoy the topics and such, and I feel like I belong. I am working out regularly with my new trainer adn am seeing some really great results, not to mention the added benefit of more energy!! My days are still long. I go to the gym at 6 am and am at school from 8 until generally about 6pm when I head back home to Skype with my boys. By 9 (my time) I am thinking about many things and trying to watch just a smidge of ESPN - man how I have missed that all these years! I get to talk to friends and family after 9 due to my cell phone plan and that is a big help. Sleep is getting better and I am now able to say I have progressed from 4 hours a night the first week to about 6 hours a night this week. I am starting to settle into a routine, which is helpful as well. Study groups are helpful, and I need to get back to them. It is much easier to figure out what is going on if you have the opportunity to talk it through with others.

Lesson: You must schedule your hours, days and weeks wisely it will make all the difference!

I will end this entry with a quote one of the powers that be gave us the first week;
Q"How do you eat an elephant?" A: One bite at a time
And that appears to be the only way to get through the emmense amount of material that I am going to be expected to know in December.