“We did it!” Those were the remarks I heard as I finished my last exam of the Winter Semester: Contracts. A four-hour final that left us all tired, slightly defeated, excited for winter break, and one step closer to achieving our attorney dreams. 

As we filed out, there was a sense of camaraderie between us, first-year law students who had survived our first round of finals. We had shared weeks of panic, frantic studying, and the challenge of reviewing 15 weeks of material in 3 weeks. Although, as evening students, our winter exams looked a little different. We only had a Contracts final and a Torts midterm.

To be honest, law exams are exactly what you expect. They’re tough, long, and tiring. But there are a few strategies I picked up that helped me get through exams.

First, start early. Do not wait last minute to outline. Do multiple-choice questions and write practice essays weeks before your exams. Second, use study groups and office hours. I can not stress enough how important this is. My study group, which started as a small group of 4, grew to 10. In these sessions, the competitiveness of law school fades, and we all genuinely want to help each other succeed in the courses. 

When it comes to exam day, give yourself time to think, and do not jump into the essay without reading the question carefully. Your first guess is usually wrong. Take time to think through every fact and outline your response first. Trust me, it’ll save you time when you start writing your essay. 

Ultimately, law exams are difficult, but when you put in the work beforehand, the confidence you feel walking into the exam room is unbeatable.

Now that finals are over and I’ve had a restful winter break reconnecting with family and friends, I’m ready to learn from my past mistakes and start this semester fresh. At least I can say, “One semester down, seven to go!”

During winter break, I reflected on my first semester as a law school student.

Starting backwards, the ugly: Imposter Syndrome.

After countless hours spent studying for the LSAT, drafting and editing my personal statement and optional essays, and asking for bathroom codes at coffee shops I studied at, I hoped my hard work would make me feel deserving of my spot at LLS. But, to the surprise of no first-generation law student, imposter syndrome set in. And it did so during the worst time of a student’s life: reading period. My self-doubt not only showed in the practice exams I started that week but also in the final exams I took in the weeks after. However, when it was all over and I finally had the time to sleep for 14 hours (a personal best!) and crotchet a whopping three scarves, I realized it was important that I lean into my imposter syndrome. By doing so, I turned my feelings of self-doubt into actions for self-growth. My action plan for the new semester includes: dedicating time on Sundays to write down deadlines for the current and following week in my planner, revising my notes after class, and asking my professors questions without prefacing them with, “This might be a dumb question but…”

Now, the bad.

According to my need to be the perfect student—and the curve—my exam grades. Fortunately, the growth mindset I’ve cultivated over the break reminded me that there will always be room for improvement. And when I feel stuck, with nowhere to grow, I know I can turn to my family and friends for support. I was grateful to spend more time with them over the holidays and to create lasting memories—like my dad failing miserably at UNO (a moment now immortalized in this post).

Finally, the good.

This new year—and speaking it into existence!