The Big Easy

So I am sure you thought I forgot about you, but as you can imagine getting settled has kept me quite busy.  My friend and I arrived in Nola and then 3 days of shopping, unpacking, organizing, sight-seeing, and concert going ensued.  I have to reiterate what great friends I have! Love you!

I’ve also gotten to know my roommates, some classmates that live nearby, my class schedule, how to use the streetcar, running courses, and the cities best Jazz places.  While I won’t paint New Orleans as the perfect city, it is definitely a great place to be, especially in  your youth.  Let’s just say I totally see how the city got it’s nick name.

I’m definitely glad I moved down 2 weeks before orientation and had a chance to get acclimated to the city and get organized without having the responsibility of orientation and assignments.  I feel fresh and ready to tackle the semester ahead.  Two of my family members came to visit 2 days before orientation began, it was great to have familiar faces and to be able to show them around my new home. That’s right I’m already adopting New Orleans so I hope it loves me back 🙂

Unlike most law schools, Tulane has a week long orientation. I know, what can we do for a week, right? Well a lot, I’m so glad they spaced out the sessions because it gave us time to get to know our classmates and take care of non-class related errands.  Since I am late posting this, I am almost through orientation and will post a synopsis of each day this weekend. Yes, we have homework for the first day of classes so I’m off to study. Being in the Big Easy and stuck in the library, I can tell this year is going to be a great tease!

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Ending and Beginning

My last day of work was last week.  I really enjoyed my job so saying good-bye was hard.  It is gratifying work to know that you are helping other people better themselves and to realize their potential.  I spent the last month away from New Jersey but I did visit 1 last time for a work event and to say good-bye to family members.  One of the reasons I was nervous about my transition from a full-time worker to a full-time student is that I was unsure if I would enjoy being a lawyer as much as I enjoyed my current profession.  After awhile, I realized that being an attorney was an important goal for me to fulfill and now I am a step closer to accomplishing that goal.  Lol this blog is making me realize that I overthink a lot of things even though I fashion myself to be a very laid back person.  My job may have ended but the real work has just begun.

Yesterday I began my road trip with my close friend to New Orleans. We have made it to Atlanta and I am excited to spend time with close friends in family before we continue on. I’m blessed to be surrounded by supportive people who believe in me. Wish us luck on the rest of our journey 🙂

Beauty

So my last post was all about scheduling and finding a balance between being a productive and efficient law student, and not forgetting that appearance matters. 

The findings in a recent Newsweek article on the Beauty Advantage was not at all surprising to me.  As my close friends know, I have been obsessed with aesthetics. I know that a large part of the experiences I’ve been blessed to have in life are because of my physical appearance.

I know that I am more than just my looks, but I know that a smile, beautiful face, toned body, and clear skin are important for having access to people or opportunities that one would not have access to based on their upbringing alone.  For example, I know that I have had great internships and work experience, in large part, because of my looks or the perception that I gave, not because my grades or work-ethic was better than another candidate. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending events and being in the company of those considered “the elite.” So how did little old me get there? Beauty, of course.

Some might disagree, but being smart is just the icing on the cake if you are beautiful.  My ability to talk my way into or out of any situation, my broad knowledge base, and my drive only help me reach my goals faster. I am more disciplined now and feel that I am prepared for the rigors of law school.  I deferred my law school admission because this time, a year ago I was not ready to fully commit myself to another academic program.  I was still burned out from undergrad and just wanted to have fun and continue with my job that I loved. 

I realize that doing well in law school and keeping aesthetics as an integral part of my life will be hard, but the benefits will be well worth it.  How important do you think beauty is to being a success?  Would you be more likely to hire an overweight, ill-dressed lawyer, or a fit, well-groomed lawyer? If your lawyer represents you, don’t you want them displaying self-confidence, discipline, and intelligence before they ever say a word?

Can you schedule too much or never enough?

This is my last week before I am officially a New Orleans resident and I am both nervous and excited.  I am currently tying up all the loose ends and packing.  Today I have to renew my AAA membership, order a mattress, and finish laundry.  Tomorrow I am taking my car to get serviced, and going to the post office to have my boxes shipped.  Thursday, I am going to the hair salon after work and then a last dinner with the friends before the road trip begins super early Friday morning.

One of my close college friends and I are driving my car down to New Orleans and staying a couple of nights in Atlanta.  I just want to get down to New Orleans and get all setup before classes start.  My plan is to get into a routine from the first week I get there and keep it up for the semester.  Since Tulane does not give out schedules until orientation, I just have a rough idea of how I want my days to go, once I know my class times I can adjust accordingly.

Rough idea of schedule

Monday-Friday

• 6:30am Wake up
• 7-7:45am Work Out
• 7:45am Shower, make smoothie
• 8:30am-5pm Classes, use day time to study when not in class
• 5:30-6:30 Dinner/Break
• 6:30-9:30 Study
• 10pm Bed

I know a lot of people may think I am crazy to plan to be in bed by 10pm every night but I believe that as long as I use the day time hours effectively it will be manageable to not have to pull all-nighters or study into the wee hours of the night.  Occasionally, I know there may be late nights but I want those to be the anomaly.  I’ve had the opportunity to work full-time for a few years between undergrad and law school and know the importance of a work life balance.  While others may be taking a break after classes or checking facebook between classes I will use that time to work on assignments to ensure my work is complete in a timely fashion.  Also, as the blog name suggests, I also care about beauty and would not want to come out of the law school experience overweight or generally unhealthy because I did not take the time to invest in my own well-being as I invested in my career.  I definitely belive in a holistic approach to life and would never want to fall so behind in my studies that I believed that I “didn’t have time to work out.”  Even a daily 20 minute jog on the treadmill can make a huge difference in one’s looks and how one feels.

Saturday

• 9am Work Out
• 10am Get Dressed
• 11am-2pm Library
• Rest of Day Free time

I plan to make Saturday evening my 1 going out night a week.  So whether it is dinner with friends, a cultural event, or exploring NOLA I will plan to do it on Saturday evenings.

Sunday

• Morning – Church
• noon Work out
• 2pm-8pm Library
• 8pm-10pm Study time or Free time if I am already done for the day
• 10pm Bed

My goal on Sundays will be to outline, clean up notes, and finish any assignments that I may not have had time to finish for the upcoming week.  The 2 extra hours in the schedule will hopefully ensure that I begin the week on a positive note and don’t have to stay up later than 10pm.

I’ll reference this post later in the semester to see if I am able to keep a schedule close to the ideal one I typed up for myself.  I’d love to hear tips that other law students used to have a balanced existence while completing their first year.

Moving Right Along

I know I haven’t updated in a while but this past month has been pretty hectic.  I moved out of my apartment at the end of June and now I am staying with a friend until I leave for New Orleans next week.  I knew moving 1,200 miles away would have its challenges but there always seems to be 1 more thing to do as I prepare for the move. 

I’m driving my car down to New Orleans with a friend and we are so excited for our road trip. We  have already planned food and attraction stops and will spend an evening in Atlanta. Next week, I stop working full-time as well.  I can’t believe I will be going back to a student budget but I keep telling myself it is for the greater good.  I hope I feel that way 3 years from now!

I’ve figured out my housing situation and will have 2 roommates in a 3 bedroom apartment. I hope we get along well or at least amicably.  More updates next week 🙂

Officially a 1L

So this Jersey girl who had planned to go to a smaller town for law school has officially decided to attend TULANE for the fall.  I am so excited to be moving in a few weeks.  I definitely plan to stay focused and unfortunately won’t get to enjoy the partying that New Orleans is famous for.

I am finishing the move and organizing my work files to hand them off.  Now, I have to find housing in New Orleans, plan my drive down, and do the normal transitional stuff like opening a bank account, forwarding mail, and saying good-bye to loved ones.

Positivity is so important and I would not be on my way to Tulane if it wasn’t for the wonderful people in my life who have believed in me.  Now it is time for me to keep my end of the bargain and do as well as I possibly can.  I am currently reading 1L of a ride and hope to put together a schedule in the next few weeks because I want to continue to work out daily in law school.  Which is what I will be waking up at 6am to do tomorrow.

Can’t take the Jersey out the girl

One of the great things about being a Jersey girl is that you are a train ride away from the city that never sleeps.  I am going to miss the days of partying well past sunrise, being able to barter for prices for almost everything, going to great cultural events, all while being around some of the best people in the world.  I love NYC.  The reasons why I love NYC is also the reason I knew I could not remain in NYC while I am law school for the next 3 years.

The much slower city I am relocating to will be very conducive to studying because if I don’t go out, I know I am not missing ANYTHING.  Sometimes you have to acknowledge your weaknesses and make changes so that they don’t become the obstacles that keep you from reaching your goals.

I still plan to be fabulous in law school city but in a more sophisticated way, more galas, cultural events, and fundraisers.  No one said as we grow older we have to stop partying, we just start to party for a cause 🙂

Ambitious

One of the greatest lessons I learned is that it is okay to do the things you fear.   Life is all about taking leaps and doing what may scare you but that leap of faith into the unknown may make all the difference and give your life the meaning that you seek.

There is a Jay-Z quote that has meant so much to me lately, it goes,

“So they made light of, my type a dreams seem dumb
They said wise up, how many guys a you see making it from here, The world don’t like us, is that not clear, alright but,
I’m different, I can’t base what I’m gonna be off a what everybody isn’t,
They don’t listen, just whispering behind my back,
No vision, lack of ambition, So wack!”

Some of the people I know can’t see my vision for my dreams because they dream so small.  It’s sad to feel like members aren’t on the same page as me but c’est la vie.  I still must continue to move towards my dreams. Recently I was at a political event and it was great to be around like minded people.  It really helped me remember that my dreams can come true and that those that don’t want me to do well are just jealous.  I am just happy that I am blessed with others around me that want to see me do well.  Family doesn’t have to be those with the same bloodline just those that have your back and only want the best for you.  I have many mentors and gain my inspiration from many places.  I am thankful for the love and positivity that counters the negativity.

My first taste of true freedom

Wow so it has been a long time since my last post. I wish I had time to catch you up to speed but long story short I am moving at the end of the month!  I am sad to be leaving my first apartment.  This apartment was my declaration of independence, security, peace, achievement, and commitment.  Are you wondering how a 1 bedroom apartment can represent so much about the occupant?

To put it lightly, I am a commitment phobe.  I avoid committing to anything that I can, so committing to a 1 year lease gave me hives for weeks before I committed. The apartment brought independence and security because it was something that I provided for myself and no one could take it away.  It was a great achievement because it signified my hard work in school and my career to be able to take care of myself.  Most importantly, it brought peace because I could come home and not be bothered by a roommate, significant other, or family member.  I believe everyone should experience that at least once in their lives.

I learned so much during my 13 months here and will share them over the next few weeks.  For now, I should get back to packing.

Leaving is hard, but I am also so excited for what the future holds.  I won’t think about tomorrow today and today I will cherish the remaining time I have in my first place!

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So I have decided to try to keep a blog of my thought and actions.  I view myself as anything but normal and believe that my life is insane but still beautiful.  I know life sometimes test us to see how much we really want something.  Right now I am trying to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.  Do any of you feel that way?  As I blog more I am sure you will get to know more of what I am aiming for.  I hope you enjoy my journey as much as I do.