Law Student At Last

Well, so here goes on some data about me:

*  I am what you would call a “non-traditional student” attending a Chicago law school as a 1L (JD Candidate, 2012)

*  I have been married forever and have two children ( 7 yr old daughter and a 5 yr old son)

*  I work on the ”wind-down” for a very successful campaign which ended in 2008

*  I am also a Realtor  for a successful company in the NW Suburbs.  (w/ only myself as a client – want a great house in the suburbs!?! Mine’s for sale!!!)

*  I have 5 animals!!!  2 Dogs (2yr old Maltese named Bailey, 3yr old Pomeranian named Shelby), 3 Cats (3yr old Tortie Himalayan named Margie, 1yr old Seal Point Himalayan named Lily, and a 40mo old Black short haired named Mac).  (***2 Birds (10mo old Blue Parrotlet named Coco, and a 10mo old Green Cheek Conure named Loco*** While not loving these birds as much as I should, I did love them, I just had NO time to give these babies who needed SOO much attention!  I found an amazing woman who could not afford to buy new birds but loved them – worked from home – no kids or husband – PERFECT!  She has been the best thing that’s ever happened to them – so why do I still feel soo guilty?!?!)** Update** Well, the guilt was overwhelming – got 2 Guinea Pigs – long haired - adorable!!  Named Chubby and Puffle!

*  I live very far away from school so I have, at best, a 1.5hr commute each way – arguably the hardest part of being in law school!!!

*  ADD – I was diagnosed with ADD last summer (2009) and have been on medication since.  Although it helps somewhat, I find it very hard to avoid distractions and remain focused on a task (Hence, the beginning of a blog in the middle of finals prep!!!)

So, as you can see, my life is a bit complicated – even more so if I was willing to delve further into the personal.  I do want to remain somewhat anonymous.  I know people from my school, friends, family will recognize me from these posts – that’s fine.  I am just trying to avoid a hit on a google search from what will hopefully be my future employer!    I want to be relatively free to discuss what I want on here without fear of repercussions.

I am so thrilled to be in law school – it is something I have wanted for at least the last 20 years.  I never thought I could do it.  i remember telling someone I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 18-19 and they laughed!  I was a good student in high school, so I am not sure the laugh was anything more than sexist thoughts and old-fashion gender roles – both of which me becoming a lawyer did not fit!!!

It doesn’t help that I waited until I was in my mid-thirties before I became determined to fulfill this dream.  I had a small child and was a stay at home mother when I realized this life was not for me.  I admire women who can stay at home with their children, but I was not one of them!  Unfortunately, I still had 2 years left to receive my BA (which actually took 4.5 years)

The whole time I was in school, my family politely acknowledged my quarterly successes, all the while never believing I would follow through on law school (why should they – I had never really followed through on anything else before), plus I vacillated between law school and government for a few years, thinking I could not possibly go to law school at such an old age!! 

Then, joining the campaign and working as hard as I (we) did, gave me purpose!  It reinvigorated my sense of the possible!  I just knew if I wanted it bad enough, I could do it.

Problem is, my husband is not on board.  He, in fact, believes my choices are harmful to our kids and our marriage!  I get that being away so much makes life harder for him and I appreciate all he’s taken on to make this work, but I also believe I am showing my kids that nothing is impossible and it is important to go for your dreams.  My daughter, especially, needs to see a woman succeeding at something that is really really hard!  I hope my marriage can make it, but if it doesn’t, it was going to fall apart without law school.

So, we shall see – it will be an interesting 3 years!!!