I’ve learned why I’m not pursuing an MBA. One of my Business
& Financial Literacy professors mentioned in class one day that, “this isn’t
rocket science.” My mental response was, “I prefer rocket science.”
Business is not my forte.
I had inklings of this last semester in Business
Associations, but this class has solidified my feelings. Too much business and
not enough policy and theory for my tastes. I won’t be taking any more business
classes.
On the positive side of my class schedule, I am very much
enjoying Property Theory. In that class we get to discuss abstract ideas, competing
theories, and phrases such as, “not sufficiently thing-like.”
On the research front, I’ve become so accustomed to
electronic searches that I found myself automatically moving to press CTRL + F
while I was reading a textbook the other day. Note to self: textbooks are not
searchable.
I’ve also become semi-nocturnal, as far as research is
concerned. I’ve done an over-large amount of research between 11 pm and 5 am this
semester. This is the result of never settling into any semblance of a routine.
(With only three weeks left before finals, at this point I don’t think a
routine is going to happen.)
In parallel with my erratic schedule, school and life have
been up and down the last little while, like rowing over rough waters. And
about a week and a half ago, I was needing a hug from my mom. Unfortunately,
that’s a little hard when your mom is 2,197 miles away (according to Google
that’s 1 day and 9 hours of driving).
This is where the tender mercies of the Lord come in.
Over the last few months, my cousin Kristine was fighting
osteosarcoma for the third time in her life. That meant surgery, chemotherapy,
hospitalization, and stress and pressure and worry on her and those who love
her most. After several months of fighting, Kristine learned there were more
tumors, and they were inoperable.
When I start thinking law school is hard, I think of Kristine
and I think that cancer is probably harder.
Kristine passed away shortly after learning her condition
was terminal.
I don’t want to diminish her life by implying that Kristine’s
passing was accelerated in order to help me; I only know that the Lord’s
calculus is perfect, and just when I needed it, my mom was on her way to
Virginia for the funeral. I soon received the hug I needed (and a bunch of
other hugs in the bargain).
Kristine’s funeral was a special experience. I didn’t know
her well in life; we spent most of our lives on opposite sides of the country.
But I feel like I got to know her a little better by hearing her family’s
stories about her strength, courage, and adventurous spirit. There was grief,
but no intimation of complaint. The over-riding feeling was gratitude for her
life, and rejoicing in who she is. When I think of her, I feel she fulfilled
her work in this life; she made it.
It was during the funeral that I received a second tender mercy.
My heart and mind were heavy with worry about the future. Law
school is constantly looking several months (or years) down the road. Students
are consistently asked (always by caring and well-meaning people), “What are
you doing this summer?” or “Do you have a job/internship/externship yet?” or “Where
are you taking the bar exam?” The pressure to know (or at least have some idea)
of what you’re going to do is almost constant. For me, that pressure was getting
to be too much. I simply did not have a plan and felt I was floundering just keeping
up with my week-to-week work.
And then during the funeral in what I’m sure was a response
to the promptings of the Spirit, Kristine’s mom (my aunt) shared some of the
thoughts Kristine had saved in her phone to help her get through the last few
months. The first thought she shared was, “Sometimes you don’t need a plan.”
It was exactly what I needed to hear.
It was a reminder that even if I don’t have a plan, God
always does. He knows where I need to be and what I need to do and what I need
to become. He knows I need a job to pay off my school loans. He knows the kind
of environment I want to be in and the kinds of jobs I dread. He knows the type
of work I want to do. I needed that reminder that sometimes I just need to let
go.
So thank you, Kristine. I owe you one.
__________________________________________________
This year is the 800th anniversary of the signing of the
Magna Carta! Or at least part of it, according to my Trusts and Estates
professor, who is an expert on the subject. You can hear about it from him and one
of his colleagues by clicking here. Apparently some parts of the Magna Carta
are still binding law in Virginia.
Also, Flat Stanley came to visit. It was fun to have a guest
for a little while. We got some friendly smiles as we were touring Colonial
Williamsburg.
Sadly, we didn't see any of these critters. Still hibernation season, I guess. |
Chatting with Thomas Jefferson. |
Flat Stanley is considering his collegiate aspirations. |
The sheep were indifferent to Flat Stanley, but he was rather fond of them. |
You can't see it in this picture, but the statue of Lord Botetourt is wearing Mardi Gras beads. |
Flat Stanley ate A LOT of my jelly beans while he was here. |
No comments:
Post a Comment