Elizabeth Williams is a first-year student at Loyola Law School focused on exploring the intersection of law and the entertainment industry.
Since I went to a large undergraduate university, it wasn’t common to form study groups. I didn’t even know the names of most of my peers in my 100+ person classes. Outside of class, all of my friends were in different majors. We studied together at coffee shops every weekend, but we weren’t studying the same material.
At Loyola, you get to know everyone quickly. Your peers are the people you spend every day with, specifically, the people in your section, and they are the only ones who can truly relate to what you are learning. My peers have served as a support system for me here, especially because I don’t have family nearby. When I need to go on a coffee run, take a 15-minute break to chat about the latest reality TV scandal, or do anything other than read my assigned cases, my peers are there.
One of the most important parts of a study group for me is being surrounded by people I feel comfortable with. There are no stupid questions, but there are sometimes questions you’d rather not have classmates or a professor hear. My friends are always kind and caring and give me the space to ask about anything. I’ve learned so much from their patience in explaining rules, ideas, or cases. They’re also always there for the 9 p.m. text to clarify something or the 6 a.m. “It’s going to be a great day” text.
Finding people to study with is important, but it’s even more important to find people you trust and feel comfortable with. The best studying and improvement comes from treating each other with kindness, respect, and patience, which makes studying a little more bearable.
TOPICS: 1L