1L: Check

Well, it's done. My first year of law school is now under me belt, and they tell us it's the hardest year, so that's promising. Although, not to undermine the difficulty of the year, people often wondered why I wasn't going crazy and super overwhelmed by everything. I always reminded them that I use to teach junior high and after doing that for five years, there's nothing I can't do. But as long as we're being honest, I did have my moments of being overwhelmed. Finals week certainly brought that out in me, I just wished it had served better to inspire me to study more. It usually just meant wast more hours playing Words with Friends on Facebook. I guess we all need a coping mechanism. Apparently Facebook and M&Ms are mine.  Hopefully next time I will choose something a little healthier, like running.

As I reflect back on the year, I had some really good experiences. First, I really loved that the school started having the 1L professors take the students out to lunch. It has been a really nice experience getting to know the professors in a more intimate setting. Not as a part of the program, but from a fundraiser auction purchase, the culmination of these experiences was getting to have lunch with the dean of the law school. That was one piece of advice from my 'mentor' (we spoke once and never spoke again) practitioner at the beginning of the year. He said to make sure to take the opportunity to get to know Dean Rasband, and I must say that it was a really nice experience. He is a really nice person, genuinely interested in the students and bringing about positive change at the law school. It was a nice lunch.

I also had the opportunity to participate in several competitions and really had a good time with it. The Trial Advocacy competition is like playing Law and Order for a night. You basically put on a mock trial, calling witnesses and all (which my roommates played very well). I actually had the opportunity to compete as far as the Quarterfinal round. The next competition was the Moot Court competition, which is like arguing before an appellate court. I must say that this was probably my favorite of the two and I actually made it to the semi-finals. While there is on more competition remaining that takes place next week (the Write-on for the BYU Law Review), I can't imagine it being much fun. It is, after all, a week of editing and writing.

I must say that I have loved learning the law. It has been so fascinating and I think the key word is empowering. Understanding  your rights and the legal recourse available to you. Also understanding the boundaries that exist in our society. I'm sure knowing what I do now, will influence my life as a parent. I'm going to see a swimming pool left out on the front lawn and immediately think "Negligence and Liability." My poor, future kids. I fell like I have learned so much over the last eight months and have loved all of it.

Finally I must put in a shout out to my fellow 1Ls. I think I really am blessed to be a part of such a dynamic and great group of people. It has been a wonderful group of people to have class with, and their diversity really has made the experience (and laid aside some of my concerns of coming here, not perfectly, but definitely to a great extent).

All that being said, it really has been a good year and I am happy about this decision to go to law school. I'm not sure what will come of it in the end, but for now I am certainly enjoying it. I must say though, I am still a true Utah State fan and Aggie blood runs through my veins stronger than ever. That much certainly hasn't changed.