Fall Semester Recap

Hey Jury of Peers!

I can’t believe I’m finally on the homestretch of my first semester of law school. Where did the time go? I blinked and suddenly I’m preparing for finals. With the fall semester coming to an end, I want to reflect upon my past three months at Loyola.

Looking back on the semester, I feel very proud of myself. Law school always seemed like an enigma to me; a daunting mystery I wished to one day hopefully solve. And here I am with three months under my belt, slowly cracking the code and unpacking the intellectual challenge that is law school.

Before I started law school, I expected the workload to be constantly overwhelming. I remember looking at the various syllabi and thinking how on earth am I going to manage the reading assignments each week. It’s safe to say I was very intimidated. But each week, I kept up with my studying and reading, and honestly, it was much more manageable than I anticipated. The workload is heavy, but if you stay organized and consistent with your study schedule, it is much less overwhelming.

One thing I didn’t anticipate about law school is how much it affects your mental health. I knew school would be challenging, but I only expected the challenge to revolve around course material. About midway through the semester, I found myself exhausted, homesick, and a little burnt-out. I spent the majority of my time alone in my apartment studying, barely taking any time to care for myself. I knew I needed to make a change. I started implementing simple self-care activities into my weekly schedule, such as going on small hikes, cooking healthy dinners, calling my friends and family, and even indulging in a few episodes of reality TV. Prioritizing my mental health made a world of difference in not only my happiness, but my performance in school as well.

Despite the challenging times, law school has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve learned so much in the past three months, and I’ve only just scratched the surface. It is so rewarding when the material clicks in my brain and I finally understand a puzzling rule or case. These moments of clarity make the difficult times worth every second, for they encourage me to keep my head up and work hard.

And there you have it! Thanks again for the read.

Until next time,

Madison