Chelsi Lake

Age: 25
Undergraduate School: Baylor University
Undergraduate Major: Political Science
Hometown: Colleyville, TX
Status: Full-Time Day
E-mail: crlake@mail.txwes.edu

11/18/09 - So, this week has been pretty stressful. With completing my outlines, making a study schedule and preparing for the holiday season, the sleep deprivation is starting to settle in. I have been working very hard to set up quality outlines that will allow me to do my best. One thing that is different about this year’s final exams is that in two of my classes, I am allowed to bring in outside material—codebooks, outlines, class notes—for the final exam. I am especially grateful for this on my Wills and Estates exam due to the depth of coverage. The ability to bring in outlines for my other two classes would almost be more helpful, but I have to roll with the punches. At the end of the day, everyone has the same amount of time to prepare for exams, everyone’s got the same information, and everyone is in the advantageous (or disadvantageous) position of having their materials for the exam. 

On some personal notes, my Mom is doing well. MD Anderson chose to take her off of her medicine temporarily because her liver enzymes were up this past week. Although the cancer did not grow nor spread, it did not shrink either. But, she feels better than ever and is ready to begin a new treatment plan that will have only better success. She will have two surgeries after I finish final exams and I will be spending a great deal of time with her during December, which I am grateful for and looking forward to.

My husband and I have been decorating the house with Christmas decorations (yes, I can hear you groaning) but I really have two valid reasons for doing this so soon. (1) If I do not do it now and have it completed before this weekend, I will want to put up Christmas decorations rather than study for finals. And trust me, I would prefer to put up the Christmas decorations. Kind of like in undergrad, when everyone’s apartments are sparkling clean because everyone prefers not to study. (2) My husband and I are really into Christmas. We have seven Christmas trees in our house and purchased 4,000 more lights for the outside of our house this Sunday. Trust me, we have plenty more work to do, but finals take precedence this week.

Well, I am off to class and finishing outlines. Have a great week and a happy Thanksgiving! May you and your family have a blessed one! =)


11/11/09 - The buzz around law school this week is registering for next semester’s classes. I really panicked over the upcoming semester with my heavy load this fall. I wanted a good balance of classes that would help prepare me for the bar while still helping me keep my sanity. Although school has been difficult this semester, I think in the long run, I will be grateful that I took all required courses this semester. I only have to take two more required classes, one of which I am officially registered for this spring, and the other I plan to take this summer. I also have to complete my rigorous writing course and third legal writing class.

My goal is to take as many bar related courses as possible during law school so that I will at least be somewhat familiar with the subject matter when preparing to take the bar. The Texas bar results came out this past week and Texas Wesleyan Law had the third highest bar passage rate in the state for the July bar at 93.29%. I pray that I will be in that group come November 2011 when my classmates and I receive our results.

To register for the Estate Administration Practicum class, I arrived to school at 6:30 this morning to ensure I was one of the first students to turn in my enrollment form. The class has limited enrollment, so instead of registering online, you must do so in person. Hopefully I can get into the class because the seats go to students with the most hours. I am interested in doing Probate, which takes you through the process of drafting a will and admitting it into probate upon the client’s death. I believe this class will help me if I am lucky enough to get an internship because I will have knowledge of the proper procedures for probate administration. 

After I parked my car, I attempted to enter the building, but to no avail, so I returned to my car. I watched several other students try to get into the building but with the same result as me. I got out of my car and we all went to the front of the building, where the security guard let us sit in the main lobby until the Registrar’s office opened at seven. There I was amidst several of my classmates, laptops ready to hit “Submit” for the classes we desperately wanted. Luckily for me, I got into all of the classes I wanted but I will have to wait to see if I got into my practicum. 

Off to outlining and class. Have a marvelous week! And also, thank you to all the veterans and current soldiers who serve our country! We are all so blessed to have you! =)


10/28/09 - I was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last week for the wedding of one of my childhood friends.  Although I was in a place where the sun was warm, the water beautiful, and the drinks fresh, I found myself slipping off to my room to get in a little bit of studying and some much needed rest.  It was the perfect break in the middle of the semester to get me revamped for the remainder of the semester.  I had no idea how exhausted I was, which was further exemplified by a five hour nap yesterday.  I am surprised how tired I am this year.  I did not think anything could compare to last year taking four classes and writing two massive papers per semester, but I am wrong.  I do not have a writing class, which I believed would make my life so much easier, but it has been tough.  I am ready to get to December, close out this semester and enjoy the holidays with my family.  The four day vacation provided me with enough time to step back, get some rest and refocus.  Finals here I come! 

Much to my enjoyment, I made some great headway on my outlining and planning how to study for my finals during my trip.  While studying on the airplane, the couple sitting next to me noticed my books and my planning materials for finals.  They asked if I am a law student.  I excitedly exclaimed that I am and a long conversation ensued.  The wife told me she is currently an estate planning lawyer, which is the field I would like to go into.  We talked about her day-to-day work and I asked her how she felt regarding the “mommy friendly” nature of the job.  As much as I want to be a lawyer, I know I really would like to have a family of my own in several years.  Much to my happiness, she said that it is a job that has steady pay, consistent hours, and something you do not take home with you—exactly what I want in my future life as a lawyer! 

Off to class and home to outline and read.  Have a fabulous week! =)


10/14/09 - Yesterday the 1Ls completed their first memorandum (memo). Congratulations to all of you first years! It is truly a notch in your law school belt. You could tell last week that the lack of sleep and the countless number of revisions were starting to catch up with them. I remember the feeling as if it were yesterday. No matter how many times you edit and re-word your memo, a horrible fear lies within you because you are uncertain what your legal writing professor wants. I always wondered if I revised my paper so many times that I essentially said the same thing I originally wrote, it just took me ten rounds to get back to where I started - kind of like what would happen if you hired two private investigators to follow one another.

My two mentees were quite stressed out with finishing their memos, so as a small award, I gave each of them a Starbucks gift card so they would go have a treat and pat themselves on the back. One of them was particularly grateful (no suggestion that the other was not), and sent me a message on Facebook regarding the last two days and turning in her memo. As I read it, I remembered how difficult it was to be a 1L, and no matter how hard I think it is now, it will never be as hard as that first year.

A great deal of my blogging has been focused on the others around me, and for good reason. I was poignantly reminded yesterday that law school is something you should never try to take on by yourself. You need support from your significant other, friends, family and the other law students in your class. Last year, not a week went by that I did not meet with my study partner and go through our notes, generating the best outlines we possibly could. This year, for whatever reason, I have been much more independent - I realize now that I am lonely in studying and in my thoughts. Your peers in law school provide wonderful clarity and great insight into different analysis of the problem in front of you. Everyone takes very different (sometimes peculiar) routes to get to the same answer, but I think it is very important to hear those different ideas, because it helps to shape how you think and furthers what you believe. 

Well, it is back to hitting the books and those outlines.  Until next time! =)

P.S. Mom is doing well! Nothing new to report. She is still receiving treatment and her spirits are well.


10/1/09 - Well, I guess I need to start out with some good news regarding my Mom. She began her treatment under the clinical study today and is staying at the hospital overnight so that the doctors can ensure she does not have a reaction to the drug. She receives only a single dosage today. As long as she has no reaction to the drug, she will have two doses tomorrow and Friday. We are happy that she has the opportunity to join the experimental study. The study has produced positive results for patients with slow-growing cancers in New York and England. Hopefully, that success will continue down in Houston! Our family greatly appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this time.

School…well, it has been rough lately. I oftentimes find myself wishing for (and usually finding) a distraction. I am not alone in this area. Many of my friends welcome distractions too. I suppose it is one of the many cycles we experience as a second year law student. The feeling I have right now compared to last year is indescribable. I really thought things would be different right now. I thought that I would have so much more energy to do the work and not get frustrated as I did last year with the reading, but as it goes, law school proves me wrong. I feel exhausted, especially after my Constitutional Law reading. I continuously challenge myself to formulate the case the way I think our professor wants it, but I am usually just a bit off. Luckily, she is a great and very entertaining professor, so I do not beat myself up over it too much.

Finals are just over eight weeks away, so I am beginning to focus on creating my outlines for each class that will help me memorize the necessary information as well as the ability to apply it to different fact situations. Last year, I purchased a lot of supplements and outside materials to help me study. I know they are very beneficial for many students, but I believe I need to return to the basics — notes, outline and study. Hopefully it will yield good results come December.  

Have a wonderful week and hope to hear from you soon! =)


9/16/09 – I had one of the roughest mornings I have ever had since I’ve been in law school. I became light-headed and utterly sick just thinking about the day. I allowed a lot of stress to build up for really no good reason and it caused me to be sick. I did not want to make excuses for myself; everyone gets stressed out in law school. It is what you sign up for when embarking on this journey. But this week I am waiting for some good news to finally come. 

Something greatly affecting me is my mother’s battle with cancer. She has acinic cell carcinoma, a very rare, slow growing cancer. Last week, my mother and my father were in Houston at MD Anderson to do some tests and create a possible treatment plan. The doctors here have struggled to find an appropriate plan for Mom. We were hoping that MD Anderson would provide us with a finite answer. When a loved one is battling cancer, uncertainty is one of the most miserable things you can face. Uncertainty has plagued our family for several months. We needed answers, even if they were not positive, we just needed something certain. Before going to Houston, my Mom was told that she would have the cancer for the rest of her life and that it would appear in different parts of her body because it is now in her blood. There was not much hope for curing this once and for all. Mom and Dad returned to Houston this Sunday and met with the oncology team Monday. We received good news. MD Anderson is currently conducting a clinical study for her cancer and her doctors believe she will greatly benefit from the medicine.

I am not telling you this to be a downer, or for you to feel sorry for my Mom or me, because you should not. Our family believes that you must always play the hand you are dealt and that there is a reason for everything. I am telling you this because I want incoming students to realize that you will face many bumps in the road during your law school journey, and that it is possible to deal with them. My husband, family and friends are the backbone of why I can keep my head above water. Always remember the people who got you to where you are. You will need them throughout your life, and especially in law school. Without them, I would not make it through the days. Especially my husband, who has an incredible ability to put things in perspective and calm my nerves when I am at my wits end. I am truly blessed to be at Texas Wesleyan Law.

Until next time, have a great one! =)

 

9/2/09 – Third week, and the stress is slowly mounting. I am taking three four-hour classes and a heavy three-hour class, so there is a ton of reading and preparation for class. On top of those fifteen hours, I am involved in three different organizations. Organizational involvement is one of the biggest changes among my peers and me as 2Ls. Last year, our time was primarily spent reading, preparing for class and attempting to implement the proper legal writing style. As far as we were concerned, there was not much time for anything else, especially if we wanted to spend time with our friends and family. Now, our time management takes on a different dynamic, as we try to balance life, school, and organizations. For example, today, I have two classes, two organization meetings and an event for incoming students this evening.  Needless to say, it’s a busy day.

Another big concern as a 2L is finding a job. I know - I still have this entire year, one more year and then passing the bar, so what is the rush? But realistically, two years will be here before I know it. Several people have internships that set up the possibility for future employment, or have on-campus interviews. I am personally trying to get involved with different organizations that setup great networking opportunities. I am also thinking about the possibility of trying to find a part-time job next spring and summer. With my schedule, trying to keep my head above water will be tough for a bit, but once I find a routine, I feel confident I can make it. I knew when I signed up for law school it would be a rough road, so I just have to be tough.

Have a wonderful week—I promise to write about happier things next time. =)


8/26/09 – My name is Chelsi Lake. I am a 2L, residing in Colleyville with my husband. My first year was hectic, not just in the classroom, but in my life outside of law school—yes, there is one, as long as you create time for it! During my first year I got engaged, planned a wedding, had five wedding showers, moved to my current home two days after finishing finals, and then finally got married the following weekend. Yes, it was stressful. I survived due to an amazing support staff, time management, and a wonderful study partner. I loved my first year, but I am grateful that it is over.

The beginning of my second year is very different than my first. The most noticeable difference is the pressure. Do not be fooled. I still feel plenty of pressure to be successful, but things are coming much easier. My first year I experienced a lot of uncertainty while reading the case law, living in fear that a professor would call on me, and trying to distinguish from my notes what I should put in my outline in preparation for the exam. The reading makes much more sense now that I have a full year of reading case law under my belt. My professors have implemented a “panel system” instead of the Socratic method, so I now know when I will be called on. In class, I can see when and how something will be tested on the exam. I have a much stronger understanding of what is expected of me and what I need to do to accomplish the work. 

I can see the difference in my classmates as well. Our conversations are no longer dominated by legal doctrines. The discussion centers around what field we would like to pursue after completing our first year and summer internships. After spending some time with my classmates, my husband commented that the pressures we all carried seem to be nonexistent in comparison to last year. I am grateful to be back among friends with whom I get to share this journey and look forward to seeing how things will continue to change. 

Until next week, have a great one! =)