Elizabeth Williams is a first-year student at Loyola Law School focused on exploring the intersection of law and the entertainment industry.
Being in law school means doing a lot of things you have to do, even when they aren’t things you necessarily want to do. One of those things is sitting in class for more than four hours a day. During the first semester of 1L, I was constantly overwhelmed, and the last thing I wanted was to stay for my afternoon class when I had hours of readings to do.
At any law school, the first semester of 1L comes with the classic lineup: criminal law, civil procedure, torts, and contracts. On top of that are once a week legal research and writing classes. By Monday afternoons, I felt a million tasks piling up, only to face two more hours of research class. It was a tough way to start the week.
What completely changed my experience, though, was my research professor. One day before class, a friend and I were chatting with our professor about our favorite Trader Joe’s snacks. The following week, before class even began, my professor pulled out two Trader Joe’s tote bags just for us. I was in shock. No teacher in my academic career had ever shown that level of thoughtfulness or care.
When people ask me to describe Loyola, I always use the word caring. Professors, peers, and staff genuinely care about one another. It’s not just about meeting to discuss grades or study together but caring about who you are as a person. And sometimes, that care shows up in the smallest moments, making even the longest Mondays feel a little lighter.