It’s that time of year again, friends
It’s a new year and theoretically, I should be on my way to becoming a new me. Unfortunately, I’m not. I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering from the hellscape that was exam season, then trying to fly home over winter break (what a mess), and having to be back at school on Monday, January 2. That said, we’re actually on campus this January, so this is still a monumental improvement over last year. Keep that momentum going by setting (and hopefully sticking to!) some New Year’s resolutions. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Save more money: Let’s be real, everything is expensive. Cut grocery costs by attending more school club events for free food. It may be cheap pizza, but beggars can’t be choosers. Bonus points if you beat the line on UV launch day to get one of those doughnuts before they’re gone. (Psst, some doughnuts usually get reserved for UV staff in case you were looking for a reason to join next year 👀)
- Be more eco-friendly: For example, bring your own cups for the free coffee/tea. If creating less trash isn’t good enough, not using those tiny disposable cups also means you won’t have to make as many trips back to the Atrium for refills.
- Try new hobbies: Preferably ones that aren’t self-destructive in any way. According to the 100 percent totally accurate Faculty Feud, one of the top coping mechanisms in law school is drugs/alcohol. Consider playing a sport, or try knitting. Maybe therapy. The options are endless!
- See the sun: The days might be getting longer, but it’s still way too easy to stay in the library all the time. Sun lamps may be available, but Philosopher’s Walk is literally Right There. Stop staring at the trees from The Fishbowl™ and go outside.
- Watch that legal show: You know, the one you keep telling your friends you’ll watch but never actually get around to—like Suits, How to Get Away With Murder, Partner Track… the basics. (Or don’t. Suits is NINE SEASONS LONG. I’m not watching that ever.)
- Spend time with loved ones: Build your law school merch wardrobe so you can impress your entire extended family at every holiday. Not only will you look great, but you’ll also guarantee that whenever a family member or one of their friends has an even remotely legal problem, they will come to you no matter how many times you tell them you’re still a student and can’t actually give legal advice yet.
- Make it on the UV list of study room bookings: Need I say more?
- Perfect your basic corporate email template: Hit the right balance of polite and devoid of personality. Consider using an email signature to make sure everyone knows that you are, in fact, a
law studentJD Candidate. - Confront your mistakes: Come to terms with permanence. Do the UV crossword in pen.
- Check in: Talk to your peer mentor/mentee. Or that person you became friends with in that one class and haven’t spoken to since the final exam. Will it be awkward? Maybe. But it’s still nice to get a “Hey, how are you doing? Want to grab a coffee?” message once in a while.
- Read for fun again: Far too many of us say we like reading even though we haven’t read for fun in ages because we’re overwhelmed by class readings. (It’s me. This is about me.) In light of that, the bar is low for this one. Literally, any reading for fun is valid. (That includes this list. Thanks for being here.)
- Be prepared for exams: You know how people always say to start outlining about a month before finals? Actually do that. Learn from your (read: my) mistakes, and don’t leave it too late.
- On that note, find your study spot: Claim your territory with that one chair at that one table in that one corner of the library. Maybe if you spend enough time there, you’ll adversely possess it in 10 years. (I know that’s not how it works but please let me have this one.)
- Be a tourist in our own city: For example, head over to the ROM. For culture. And history. But also because it seems a little sad to not go when it’s right next door. It’s a little sadder when you learn that students get free admission on Tuesdays if you have your student ID. History is wasted on us.
- Network: Hit 500+ LinkedIn connections full of people you only barely know, claim your pseudo-influencer title, and move on with your life.
- Be more efficient: Productivity gurus will tell you not to multitask because of your reduced attention span and ability to focus, but I’m telling you that I wrote this list during class and still took decent class notes, so do with that what you will.
- Hang in there: For all our doom-saying and complaining and venting, we’ve all made it this far, and we’ll make it farther. We’ve got this!
