Less Than Two Weeks Away!!!!!!!!!

It's August 6, 2011 already! Unbelievable! That means that there are only a few days left of my summer. On the seventeenth I will take one of the largest steps that I've ever taken in my life! It'll be one small step for me and one giant leap for mankind! (cue dramatic music) 

In all actuality, whenever I think about the big picture of my life and the lives of those of whom it will impact, it makes me happy... beyond happy! Unfortunately, for every action there is a reaction and for every good thing, there's usually something that's not so good.

Briefing hundreds of cases? Not so good. Sleeping an average of five hours a day? Probably even worse. Reading for about seventy-five hours a week? Heartbreaking! Changing the world like my best friend and many of us other Oberlin alums plan to do? Priceless! (Feel free to view my best friend's blog "Operation Change The World.")

I know that many of you wondering whether I am really ready for law school? The short answer to that question would be yes. The long answer would be, "Well, it seems like I have so much to do before classes begin. I have already been assigned readings not only for the first day of classes, but also for the first day of orientation! I feel so unprepared. Time has become my greatest enemy! I have yet to go grocery shopping! I barely read one-fourth of the books on my summer reading list because I was working fifty hours each week. I haven't bought a new dress for orientation day, which is a must-have! Plus, I've been sleep deprived for a good portion of the summer. Despite all of these things, I wouldn't have it any other way! I've had a surprisingly enjoyable summer. More importantly, I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with several amazing individuals. I know what receiving this law degree means to me, my family, my future, and all of those who are connected to me, whether they are living here on Earth or looking down on me from heaven. Classes don't begin tomorrow, which means I have time. The little time that I do have will be well spent. I may not necessarily feel ready for law school at this present moment, but once the curtains are drawn, the show will begin and I will be ready for my closeup!"

P.S. I was rather sleepy while writing this post. I may think twice before doing that again. I have a tendency to become really silly when I need rest. 

No, Not Homesickness - GROCERY SHOPPING!

For those who keep up with me on other social networking sites, you've probably noticed that I've been mentioned my hometown quite a bit lately. I'm slightly homesick. (NOTE: Slightly homesick should not to be confused with homesick. There's a enormous difference!) Earlier this week, I began writing a blog post about being homesick; however, it became rather depressing. I figured that since there is already more than enough saddening stories reaching news headlines, magazine articles and political discussions worldwide, then I should always strive to blog about fun things, happy times, and good news. (I may occasionally post something distressing, but I'll be sure to point out the silver lining as well! I promise.)

I mentioned all of that as an introduction to the new topic of my current blog post. It's about grocery shopping, a topic of which many of us are familiar! I can remember standing on the back of the grocery cart while my mother whisked me through the store aisles as a child! I can even remember the few times when my mother made me sit in the large basket of the grocery cart whenever I was sick or sleepy. Back then, grocery shopping was akin to an amusement park! It had rides (the cart), lots of people, and candy! For me, grocery shopping is just as exciting now as it was back then, but for different reasons of course. Today, grocery shopping is exciting, first and foremost because it means that I've been blessed with money to buy food! Everybody loves paychecks, gifts, and blessings, right? Secondly, I get to meet new, interesting people! (Now, understand that I don't go to the grocery to meet people, but I typically leave with a smile on my face from some wonderful conversation that I had with a cashier or customer. Yes, I've acquired the habit of speaking to people while waiting in line. My father should be the one to blame for this. If you know him, then you know exactly what I mean. I love you, dad!) Finally, seeing as some things never change, candy and snacks is another reason why I get so excited about grocery shopping!

I didn't want to spend much money on this trip, and I'm working on eating more healthily. As a result, I didn't get any candy this time around, but I did grab a few snacks to enjoy for the next few weeks. Hiding behind the container of jelly is a carton of ice cream! I LOVE ICE CREAM! Ice cream can be purchased while grocery shopping, which means I LOVE GROCERY SHOPPING TOO! Hence, for future references, if you're going grocery shopping and you want a bit of company, ask me to go with you! 

The Bittersweet Truth in Five Seconds Flat

 

What's In A Subtitle?

Next City? Next Goal? Next Step?

Does such a subtitle have the potential to accurately describe the current road upon which I traverse? In simplest terms, yes, it does‼

To begin with, I am in a brand new city‼‼ Coming to Illinois has been a wonderful, yet occasionally difficult experience, e.g., my constant inability to make phone calls in my apartment. Luckily, I've already encountered some equally wonderful people here who have been able to help me with my transition. I haven't even been here a week, and I know that I'll be able to comfortably call this place home soon enough.

So about that next goal. I actually did have a goal in mind when I added those words to the subtitle of my blog. Generally speaking, my next goal is to obtain a Juris Doctor degree within the next three years. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, maybe not, but when considering other extremely arduous circumstances through which I preserved; this next goal seems much more feasible to say the least. 

Now how could I possibly explain that next step? I guess that next step can be best described as more of a series of small steps. Matter of fact, it may even correspond more closely to a dance, seeing as many of those steps will not continue along a linear path. They will be more like a dance or a performance. Just like in every performance, once the final steps have been made and the curtain has been pulled, life still goes on, but something has changed. That performance is over. Once it is over, a new focus with new steps and a new routine will emerge. You could say that now I'm taking my own steps, creating my own dance and getting ready to give my curtain call in only a few short years. Once the crowd stops applauding for me at my next commencement ceremony, I'll be One Step Closer... to the Real World.