"I'll make you popular"

Not really, I don't know how to be popular.  I accepted a long time ago that I am not a popular person, but I like me, so that's okay.  I would rather be loved by few for who I am than loved by many for who I am not.

So, this post is about how law school is like high school.  This means, sometimes you will find yourself in a popularity contest.  Sometimes, your hard work WON'T pay off.  It sucks.  For me, this came in the form of law review elections.  I work pretty dang hard in school.  I'm not the HARDEST worker, obviously since I still have a social life, but I am up there.  I also genuinely want everyone to succeed.

You see, most law schools are pretty competitive.  You hear stories of people ripping pages out of books, hiding outlines, and refusing to share notes.  That hasn't been my experience, thank God!  I share my outlines and notes.  I study with anyone who wants to study with me and I will teach what I know.  For law review, I want to make everything easier for the incoming candidates (you are a law review "candidate" until you finish writing your paper.  If you don't write your paper or miss deadlines, you may not make it to full fledged member).

So, I wanted to be an editor who worked directly with the candidates, but you have to be "elected."  Well, elections are NOT based on merit.  As much as I think they should be, they aren't.  They are based on popularity.  I did not win my election.

So, I threw my self a pity-party.  I cried.  Yep, cried.  All those feelings of being sooo unpopular in high school and always being compared to my prettier, friendlier older sister.  I felt like hard work will never get you to the top and life will always be a popularity contest.  One I will never win because, I am me.  I have very loyal and amazing friends, but I am blunt and can put my foot in my mouth.  I am willing to apologize when wrong, but sometimes that is not enough for people (and if you aren't willing to apologize when YOU are wrong too, I just don't want to bother).

The next day, I got over myself, put on my big girl pants and sought out what I can do to be involved in law review.  You can always find a way if you work hard enough and want it bad enough.  Sure, somethings will be a popularity contest, and you will never fully escape high school.  That doesn't mean you need to wallow in it.  Sure, let yourself feel bad, but then build a bridge, get over it, and find a way to make things happen!