Law School Life

My lessons learned for my more than 3 years in law school:

1. It is ok to lend your stuff to other people. But do keep in mind who borrows what. Try to keep a list to easily track whatever materials you have lent to other people so that it would be easier when the time comes that you have to use those stuff again. Of course, sorry na lang if you lost in touch with your borrower ... hehe. It is also ok to borrow stuff from other people. Just be sure to take care of it and return it. Pero pagbinigay sa iyo, ayos. Paying it forward would be good.

2. It is ok to give your materials as well if you feel na hindi mo na magagamit thereafter. However, exercise of this discretion must be with care kasi baka nga naman magamit mo pa in the future.

3. Try not to be absent in class and make notes. You never know what discussion you might have missed when you are not present. Of course, I cannot speak for those who feel the need to be absent to prepare for an exam. As to making notes, this may help for easy recall as well as keeping you awake in class .. hehe

4. Softcopies are better. While I am not saying that having your own laptop is a necessity, it will surely make law school life easier. If wala, eh di make use of what you pay and gamitin ang computer sa library. Softcopies are preferred for easy search. Looking for a case digest that seems familiar? Use Search function and you might find out that you already have a digest of that case. Having that "parang nabasa ko na jud iyang topic na iyan ba" moment? Use Ctrl-F in a document. Oh, di ba? No need to flip over all those pages of documents .. hehe

5. Keep hardcopies of materials as well as past exams. I prefer reading a hardcopy of notes then just using the search function when it comes to softcopies. Keep copies of your past exams as well because you might still use it (as we do in 4th year). Mahal na rin ang photocopy ngayon ... hehe

6. Organize your files - whether books, hard copies of documents as well as soft copies - every now and then. Mas madali ang buhay pag ganun rather than waiting na gabundok na ang materials before you decide to organize and set aside stuff that you think you will not use anymore.

7. Do not be complacent. Hindi dahil ok na ang first exam mo ay ok ka na. Hindi dahil ok ka nung first year sa subject na iyan ay ok ka na. Hindi dahil may materials ka na ay ok ka na. Exert extra effort and it will surely pay off.

8. Try to prepare your own materials - whether you rewrite, reorganize or restructure the concepts and ideas. You may do so if such will help you to better understand the subject. Each of us have a certain format (and font .. hehe) that suits us. So, why not?

9. Balance your interests. It is ok to take a break and relax every now and then, more especially after an exam. But it is also ok (and not alien) to read during breaks. Feel free to study individually and at your own pace. But it will not hurt to discuss with your dear classmates and exert group effort every now and then. While it is true that in the end, it is just about you passing the bar exam, you cannot escape the fact that all of you are in this together.

10. Enjoy law school! Let go of unnecessary worries, keep your focus and just do it!

Have a happy life :)