I have been asked the question recently if I thought this semester was going to be as difficult as last semester. The answer is, in a very small way it may be slightly "easier" but at the same time, more stressful. Let me see if I can explain that. It will be easier in that I know how to brief cases, I have a better grasp of how to read law books and outline the necessary information. I don't have the fear of being humiliated quite as badly as I did the first semester (although there is still a little there). Also, a big factor... I have some friends there now. I am not walking blindly into the first day of class, trying to figure out where to sit, who I want to spend my whole semester sitting next to and worrying about whether I will find a study group. I get to walk in and see my study group right away, touch base and fall comfortably into a routine of bantering about current topics, professors, and fellow classmates. Now, for the added stress I mentioned. For those of you who don't know, I got a couple of grades in for last semester (I am still waiting on one) and I did well. In my Legal Writing class, I ended up with a B+, which I was very pleased with because of all the classes, I felt that I gave that one my least amount of effort and I sort of rode on my confidence in already being a decent technical writer (something I really am going to make an effort not to do this semester). In my Torts class, the one I most feared yet ended up enjoying more than any of the others, I made an A. In law school, you can actually get an A+, so this wasn't the highest possible grade for me, but it was still fantastic. I will not pretend to say that I was not shocked and excited. I really had set myself up believing that if I ended up anywhere in the "B" range (from B+ to B-) I was going to be thrilled. I really never expected to have an A. So that's the good news. The bad news... now I know it's possible which means I am going to push myself to do it again this semester. Last semester, I didn't play around. I was focused, I was regimented, I didn't have a lot of leisure time... and the bottom line is, it worked. I got the grade. So I am going to do the same thing again this semester and knowing me, I will inflict a little extra stress on myself. But it is all part of the experience! Either way, I am looking forward to the new semester and seeing what there is out there for me to learn that will make me a successful lawyer someday.
On another front, work has thrown me another curve ball. About 3 weeks ago, I was notified that my supervisor was being transferred back to our sister company and that I was being "promoted" to her position. So I am going from managing "customer service" to managing general operations. The good news is that I am excited about the job activity. It is a chance to really stretch my creative thinking, use some of my marketing and research skills and really help launch our company to a great 2010. I am a little nervous about the additional stress this new role may put on me, but I have received a lot of positive feedback from my superiors that they are going to continue to be very understanding of my school schedule and the associated time that I will need for finals preparation every semester. So wish me luck... if I am any good, the company should have in excess of $2.5 million in sales in 2010, which would be amazing since we just launched in August 2008.
Breighton had a nice holiday break. He really enjoyed his trip to Louisiana, he even didn't complain about all the time we spent driving from house to house and the constant change thrown upon him. I was so proud!! He spent New Years with me where he assumed the role of lead singer in a night full of Rock Band. Our band is called the "Ragin' Cajuns" :) and he sang his little heart out until 2:30. It was one of the cutest things I have seen in a long time! I would never have guessed that he would do that based on his usual tendency towards shyness and being such a "mumbler" but he really came out of his shell with the microphone in his hand... go figure! He turned 10 last month... so he is now officially in the double digits... I can't believe it... He is staring down the face of teenage years and that blows my mind. He is still such a little kid in so many ways, I can't imagine that in a couple more years he will be heading into middle school, going to dances, and ... eeeek.... having girlfriends... Ugh. Everyone says the transformation from kid to teen happens overnight and I am so scared to look in his face and not see the sweet innocence that comes with childhood. I just hope he is a late bloomer!
Well, I think that covers all the major developments of my life over the last couple of months. Everything else is pretty much the same. Thanks again to everyone who has been so supportive of me over the last few months. Your caring, patience, and words of encouragement mean more to me then I can express... Talk to you all again in about 16 weeks!! :) (Kidding... hopefully it won't be THAT bad!)
