Hard Work Really Does Pay Off!

Well, I had been told that the second year is SOOOO much easier than the first.  Well, not the way I did it!  I worked my tail off.  It did pay off, though.  This semester I got my first Am Jur (American Jurisprudence).  This means I got the highest grade in the class.  I received this award for Wills and Trusts, which is even more exciting since that is what I want to do.

At the beginning of this semester, a classmate and I were discussing what we want to be when we grow up.  She is working in Oil and Gas and I decided I wanted to do Estate Planning.  She joked about how great it would be for her to Am Jur O&G and for me to do so with Wills.  I laughed at her.  There was no way I would have the highest grade in Wills.  There were just too many smart people in that class.  Plus, the guy who got the highest grade in our professor's property class was in there.  I was sure he would Am Jur again.  I settled myself in with hopes of making an A and learning a lot.

I stayed after class and asked questions.  I did every practice test and went to every review.  I created my own hypothetical and answered it (yes I am a nerd).  I loved every moment of that class and frequently stayed after to talk with the professor (whom I love).  I studied my butt off around finals time.  I went to multiple study groups and taught other people what I know (which is a good way to practice).  Day of, I made test aids, worked backwards (Here is the answer I want-now create the problem), I read and re-read my outline.  The test was not bad.  Sure, she threw a few tricks in there (had a 15 year old write a will which is a capacity issue because you have to be 18 to be considered to have capacity).  There were some tough policy questions, but that is every law school final!  I felt pretty good about it.  Solid A, I thought.

Then people start talking "I put ____ on the essay."  "____Short answer was this, i know, I have the Am Jur's outline."  I started doubting myself.  I though, well, I bet I get at least a B or a B+.  Then you just start hoping you passed everything.  You have more finals and you forget what you wrote.  Lesson here-DO NOT TALK ABOUT FINALS!  It's like Fight Club.  The worst part is, you don't even get grades from the Fall Semester until after the Spring Semester starts.  It is torture!

So, Spring semester started, the stress increased.  It seemed to take forever for grades to come out.  Then a rumor started that grades would come out at 3PM on Friday-right in the middle of my 6 hour long class.  *sigh*  You could tell grades were coming out because no one was paying attention, everyone was checking grades.  I couldn't help but squeal in delight that my grades turned out so well.  It was also my first A+. 

So, while my second year was not easier, my grades were definitely better.  Moral of the story-hard work pays off!