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Camesha Little

Age: 25
Undergraduate School: Baylor University
Undergraduate Degree: Social Work
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Status: Part-Time Evening
Email: cflittle@law.txwes.edu


4/24/13 - Early Nights and Late Mornings. . .

No wait. . . . I meant Late Nights and Early Mornings. . .

Yep! That’s about right . . .my mind is scattered due to the hustle and bustle of finals preparation!

“Dead days” are here and I am trying to get prepared for my finals. I think the biggest challenge for me this semester is to not get beat by the mental challenge of law school.

This is my third year, I have completed 6 semesters and 14 final exams at this point. So I’m not intimidated by the exams themselves. . . .but the semester has me on edge. I have had a full- time job, taken 4 classes (Federal Income Tax, Criminal Procedure, Administration Law, and Education Law) all while running an organization (BLSA), teaching Academic Support, and being a wife and family member.

This by far has been one of my busiest seasons in life, but I am encouraged that I will pull through these finals. I have a very exciting summer ahead and I can’t wait to get through pain so that I can experience the gain!


4/10/13 - Well. . . It’s April again.

April is like November, time to get in gear for finals. Only April is much harder to manage because there are so many distractions. There are banquets, picnics, sports games, concerts, etc. Plus, the weather is getting nice and people want to hang out.

Of course you want to participate, but discipline at this time of the year is crucial to law school success. I am trying my best to stay focused and I am hoping that proper planning will allow me to succeed at my academics and in my extracurricular activities.

With all that being said, I’m getting geared up for the BLSA banquet this Saturday! I really can’t wait it seems like it will be a great event and when it’s over I can go from “event planner” back to a normal student and study for finals.

Even with all the demands of the season, the silver lining is that there is only one “April” left after this one because I’ll be graduating May 2014!


3/27/13 - Renewed Strength

In the past few weeks, a LOT has been going on. Spring Break has come and gone, and the finals season is quickly approaching.

For Spring Break, I attended the 1st Annual Spring Break Pro Bono Trip sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Commission. The trip was designed to send students to aid rural communities that were in need of legal aid access and pro bono services. We went to Abilene, TX. It was a GREAT opportunity to give back, gain some experience, and gather some pro bono hours.

During the week in Abilene, I appeared before a court in a divorce prove-up proceeding, presented legal information about fair housing and ADA at a client outreach event, researched for pending litigation, participated in a client intake and client staffing meetings, observed a jury selection proceeding for a DWI trial, and counseled with practicing attorneys and presiding judges in various West Texas counties.

It was busy, but a great experience. When I got back, I found myself longing for a break. But there is no time to slow down now! In the next few weeks, my focus will be on planning the BLSA banquet, attending spring events, career preparation, and final exam preparation.

While there is so much going on, I have found a renewed strength in being able to focus on the present!

3/6/13 - Time Really FLIES in Law School!

It feels like we just got started with this semester and Spring Break is already upon us! Don’t get me wrong, I am definitely ready for this break, but it just got here quick.

Spring Break is always a bittersweet time period. It’s great because of the short break, but it also means that the semester is almost over when you return.

This week will be hard to get through as well. I am so ready to just check out and get into Spring Break mode, but there are still some many things to be done!

Oh well, I’ll just keep pushing until Thursday night at 9:15 pm when my last class ends and my SPRING BREAK begins!


2/27/13 - Spring Break is Near!

It is so nice to know that Spring Break is in the near future. It has been a pretty busy semester and any break will be nice.

It is also motivating knowing that a break is on the horizon. It makes it easier to say “let’s just keep working and get a second wind. I will continue to push through the law school pain!”

I am really excited about Spring Break as I will be attending a pro bono trip and will be gaining some much needed practical experience. I am starting to shift my 2L focused mind (leadership and networking) to my 3L focused mind (practical experience and future job placement). Some people are lucky enough to do all this at each year, but it has been challenging to fit everything in while working a full-time job. So I have elected to make these the primary goals for each year of my schooling. So far so good… we will see if I can keep up the progress and keep growing as a student of the law!


2/13/13 - Bake Sale!

I have been selling delicious cakes and candies for this Valentine’s Day holiday. The Black Law Student Association has been hosting a fundraiser for our annual scholarship banquet!

While fun times, as a night student and President of an active organization on campus, things stay VERY busy. I personally think it is harder to coordinate and delegate than to simply be accessible and do the job yourself. If I could, I would always just show up and do things myself, but because I am not available during daytime hours I have to do a good job of coordinating coverage and getting the entire group on one page. I will definitely say that I am learning new skills in this position.

How am I spending my personal Valentine’s Day in law school?

Well, my husband and I already know we will have limited face time. I think we are going to wake up early and enjoy breakfast together, and then a quick “I love you,” then it’s off with our busy days.

Gotta love it! :)


1/30/13 - Four weeks down, and as I predicted this is proving to be a very busy semester!

Things have been quite exciting over the last few weeks. I attended the Regional Convention for the Black Law Student Association. I was able to be a bailiff for Moot Court competitions, sit in on Regional planning meetings, and even sit in on the National Executive Board Meeting as a proxy for someone.

All that was VERY exciting; but the best part about the convention was hearing that our Mock Trial team won the CHAMPIONSHIP! I’m so proud of them and all their hard work! I know that Matthew, Marcus, Sheena, and Elan will do wonderfully at Nationals in Atlanta!

After the convention, I was quite tired and decided to get back into working out to rejuvenate my mind and body. I have joined the latest craze and decided to take a couple hot yoga classes. While very challenging and time consuming; so far, this has been a very rewarding workout for a law student like me. It is 90 minutes where I can quiet my mind and silence everything about studying, classes, organizations, family, etc. and simply focus on me.

So I suggest that every law student find something that they can do just for themselves to deal with the busy nature of law school.


1/16/13 - The first two weeks of this semester have been a whirlwind! Classes are back in session, organizations are getting started back up, and work has become increasingly busy! People always say they don't know how evening students get it all done... well, I frankly don't know either.

One concession is that my poor husband has barely seen me :). But he's a trooper and understands we're in this together! Besides I'm almost done right? Next year this time I will be getting ready to graduate! Boy, I can't wait!

Well, last week I was excited and this week I'm grasping for air! It's the way law school goes sometimes. I am very excited about the day off that we get for MLK Day! It will be a great time to do some community service, but also catch up and make sure that I am starting this semester right!
Well, hopefully the next time I check in, things will have leveled out a bit! Until next time. . . .


1/9/13 - Well another first week is coming to a close and I must honestly say I have never been this excited to begin a law school semester. . . . . EVER!

My excitement stems from the interesting classes that I am taking this semester. For me; I am taking most of the classes that relate to what I want to do when I get out of law school
I am enrolled in Education Law; Administrative Law; Federal Income Tax; and Criminal Procedure. My career passion is education so I am very excited to learn about how my passion merges with the law. And all the classes have a STRONG Constitutional pull which also makes me excited as I love studying about rights and how the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution.

While I love my classes, as a working student I am a little worried about taking 4 classes for the first time. Most working students do this all the time; but I have limited myself to 3 courses a semester so that I can really delve into each subject and get the best learning possible. Besides I'm involved in several activities such as BLSA (Black Law Student Association), SART (Student Ambassador Recruiting Team), and AS (Academic Support) which will also take up a lot of my time.

Well, all I can say is that it will be quite a busy semester! But I'm ready for the ride!

12/18/12 - Christmas Time is HERE!

Now that School has been out I am desperately trying to relish in my brief stint of freedom! But there is always so much to do! Now I'm on to completing my Christmas shopping list; thinking ahead to my winter courses, and catching up on all the missed TV shows that I don't normally get to watch.

While I'm still busy, this feeling definitely beats the stressed feeling I'm used to during the semester, when assignments are due and you’re always working towards that final exam.
I also want to find some time to give back to others during this holiday season. I can only think about how blessed I am this year compared to many others who are mourning, stressing, and even starving during this holiday season.

So I challenge anyone reading this to think about the positives in your life, spend time with your loved ones, and pray for those who are in need.

God Bless, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!



12/12/12 - So, now that finals are over. . .how do I feel? FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! For a few weeks :)

I am looking forward to enjoying the next few days celebrating my freedom from law school stress, my sister's college graduation, and my 1-year wedding anniversary. Not necessarily very restful, but definitely a FUN time!

I am also looking forward to the holidays! I have been using my "study breaks" to shop online for gifts, so I am practically done and can simply enjoy the season!

I know this will be a VERY quick two - three weeks before I have to jump right back in and get started with a Wintermester Course that I am taking.

I am both excited and nervous about it. It is an Oral Civil Motions Course where I will be arguing in front of an actual judge for 4-5 days. . . Scary; but I'm sure it will be a great experience!

Nonetheless, I am excited about this short break!

Happy Holidays everyone!



11/28/12 - WOW. . . Time has flown and this semester is almost over. All that's left are FINALS.

Study Schedule - Check
Study Materials - Check
Good Location - Check
Study Groups Meetings Set - Check
Study Snacks- Check
Music - Check
Calmed Nerves. . . Working on it :)

Now. . I'm just praying that everything moves smoothly until the exams! Confidence is key and I am sure that this semester will turn out fine as I prepare and conquer those exams!


11/14/12 - The End is Near. . . VERY Near!
 
So the pressure is back on as we approach the finals break. . .  I feel like I have LOTS of reviewing to do, but I also have lots of places to be.
 
One goal that I have been focusing on this year is to network more.
 
There are several events that I will be attending over the next few weeks that will take away from my study time, but I plan to be diligent in planning my studying around these activities.
 
I have already created a Final Exam Calendar for my husband that includes when and where I’ll be studying during this finals break. I also included all the information about the holiday breaks that lie in between (Thanksgiving and my birthday)!
 
Each day I have to take a focused approached to get everything done. I must make time to actually study, I must make time to spend with my new husband, I must make time to fulfill my leadership roles, and I must make time to reach my networking goal…
 
Focus is key as I approach these final weeks of the semester!


10/31/12 - My theme for this year has been “Stay Informed”
 
As a future lawyer and member of society, I feel like it is my duty to stay plugged into what’s happening around me. This way, I am available where my skills are needed, and more importantly actively engaged in the dialogue that surrounds issues facing our world.
 
I, like most Americans, have been completely entrenched in the 2012 presidential election until the ULTIMATE October Surprise has struck our country… Hurricane Sandy
 
While Ms. Sandy’s strength showed the greatness of God and his power, she has also brought great destruction to our people and our land. My heart aches for the lives lost and those who lost loved ones, but also to those who must “restart” their lives in many respects.
 
While Halloween has just passed and we are approaching the start of November, I am preparing myself to hunker down in preparation for finals, BUT… Sandy reminds us all that no matter how busy and bogged down we may get in our personal lives, law school, or anything else, we are only a small part to a much larger picture that we call life. It is important to take time and reflect upon the things happening around us and not get too bogged down with our own personal lives.
 
On a law school note, now that November is here, I am creating a detailed study schedule to attack my final exam studying. I am trying to plan for Thanksgiving break and the other things that will come up this month, like my birthday! I have to really block out more time to process and practice the material that we have covered this semester.
 
Pressing On. . . Pressing ON

10/17/12 - It’s MIDTERM – MADNESS!

We have officially passed the middle of the semester. We can feel a sense of chaos around the school as 1Ls prepare memos and get ready for midterm exams, and the upper-level students freak out after they realized they have procrastinated too long in their courses and finals are around the corner.

At every turn there is a person looking overwhelmed and stressed to the max…Well, this is sometimes the VERY real, very normal part of law school. It’s all about how well you handle this pressure and stress to determine how good of a student you are.

Do I feel the pressure? YES!

I am stressed out? No . . . not today :)

In my third year, I think I have finally figured out how to try my best to keep balance and maintain the pressures of school.  I try to keep myself calm and grounded with the following:

1. Realize & recognize that the STRESS will always be there,
2. Understand that there is NO WAY to do it all,
3. Don’t feel guilty about taking a “little” time for yourself every now and again.

So while I will probably be freaking out next week, I can only hope that I remember what and how to apply my own advice!

Until next time!

10/3/12 - It’s DEBATE Night in AMERICA!

While most of the country is tuned in to the first Presidential Debate, I am sitting in class.  Luckily we have DVR, so I was able to record and watch part of it. I wasn’t able to start it until 11 PM since my last class ended at 9:50 PM.  So you can only imagine that I fell asleep while trying to hear what our presidential candidates had to say.

This is just one example of an event that a law student may miss out on. I find it rather ironic that as future public servants, or attorneys, it is expected that we follow current events and stay informed so that we can best assist society with our skills, but law school seems to foster the opposite principle. :)

On a more serious note… boy, how time flies when you’re having fun!

We are already at the midpoint of our semester, and although I do not have any exams, I definitely feel the pressure and need to get caught up in all my classes. Law school has a way of placing an indefinite “monkey on your back.” I always feel the constant need to do something related to school or study, and when I don’t, I feel horrifically guilty. To help temper this feeling, I try to focus on adding in “self-care” or time for myself.

One way is by trying to eat better and exercise more! This type of self–care is a necessity during this time of the year. I have to combat illness and fatigue so that my body doesn’t slow me down too much.

Well, I’m going to go outline and try to squeeze in a workout or two so until the next time…


9/19/12 - So if I had to describe this week in one word, it would be SLEEPY. We are now in week 5 of the semester and this is about the time that being busy all the time catches up with you. This is also when I should be outlining and trying to review my progress in my courses. So in short, my stamina is decreasing but my workload is increasing. This is all part of the joys of law school!

I am trying to overcome this lull by beginning to work out again. So far, so good. I have been getting up earlier and trying to get 15-30 minutes of cardio in. I haven’t really felt an increase in my energy levels yet; that may be because I have not adjusted to the new sleep schedule yet (or maybe it’s the hour commute into work that makes me mellow). Hopefully in the next couple weeks, the eating better and exercise will help put a positive spin on my busy life.

Outside of school things are going well. I have been missing spending time with my family. I try to pick up the phone and call people when I have a minute, but during this hectic part of the semester it becomes really hard to take the time away for visits. I think my family is missing me too. When I stopped by to visit my parents the other day, my dad made a comment about “never seeing me anymore.” I must be getting to that “too busy” point and probably need to slow down a little to spend time with those I love. I am definitely looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas when I plan to make up for some lost time!

Last year I didn’t have much of a holiday because I was planning my wedding. Plus, due to the holidays, I didn’t have much of a honeymoon either. So this year, I have also been frantically trying to plan a real vacation for my first wedding anniversary in December. If I get it all worked out, this will be a great motivation for working out and pushing through the busy semester. It’s always good to know that there is a vacation waiting at the end of a long haul through books!

Well until the next time...


9/6/12 - WOW; so if you thought a holiday (i.e. Labor Day) meant that you would get a break from all the busy-ness of school. . . NOT! 

This past week has been one of the busiest ever! Now, I did get to relax and enjoy barbecue with the family. But, I also have been trying to find time to stay on top of my reading, plan, and organize events for BLSA (Black Law Student Association) and plan my sessions for my Saturday Academic Support sessions!

There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. Well, it is fitting that I will be teaching 1Ls about time management this Saturday. One of the things I challenge all my Saturday students to do is take a serious look at the time they spend doing things to see if they are actually using their time productively.

Well, if I take look back over my week... I went to work and class as usual Monday through Thursday. Friday, I was not very productive at work, since I wanted to get ahead on my reading. Instead I was so busy that I did not have any time for school. After work, I went bowling with BLSA! That was great fun!

Well, Saturday, I took care of my house by cleaning and grocery shopping. On Sunday, I spent time with my husband and got a little school work done. This is all okay, because I was off work on Monday (Labor Day), Tuesday, AND Wednesday, so I knew I would have time to get back on track… right?

Well Monday, I spent time with the family at a barbecue. And Tuesday and Wednesday I was babysitting a 2-year old and a 6-year old... so that’s where those days went.

I completely had good intentions for those days, but sometimes life gets in the way. While I wasn’t completely unproductive, I wish I would have had a more definitive plan for my time. Good thing it’s early and I’m still ahead!


8/29/12 - As this first week comes to a close… all I can say is, “Whew!  It’s been LONG!”

Now that I am entering my third year in law school, I am busy as ever. That comes with a flood of mixed emotions. I have enjoyed catching up with all my classmates and beginning new courses. However, I can’t help but think about the fact that I am entering my third year here, but I will not get to graduate in May like most traditional law students - I am in the evening program.

I have NO regrets about joining and staying in the evening program (especially because I love having a job!). But I must say that it is tough trying to work, manage a family, go to school, participate in organizations, work so hard and then know that you still have two more years to complete before graduation. On the upside, this will give me more time to figure out what I want to do with my law degree!

Nonetheless I am happy about the year to come. I think I am going to enjoy my classes. Since I have completed all of my lockstep courses, I am able to get into some more specific areas of law.  This semester I will be taking Business Associations at 6PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, Wills & Estates at 8PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then Entertainment Law on Wednesday at 8PM! All of those courses are very interesting and my professors seem great too!

Believe it or not, I am more concerned about balancing all the extracurriculars that I am participating in! I have taken a position as the Black Law Student Association President, an Academic Support Teaching Assistant, and Student Ambassador Recruiting Team Board member! My schedule for the semester is already packed tight!

So far the schedules looks good, but I’m sure I’m in for an exciting ride this semester!

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