And They Are Back!

It is official.  The 1Ls are in the building.  Looking nervous; excited; ready for battle?!?! 

Yesterday, I was part of our professor panel for 1L orientation.  As people were discussing the difficulties of law school, I remembered something a friend of mine told me while she was the vice-principal of a middle school.  She explained to me that when a student is really learning, they are often uncomfortable.  Growth is challenging and often causes some discomfort, but it is important to lean into the experience.  Discomfort isn’t necessarily something to avoid, because it can be the beginning of an extraordinarily rewarding experience. 

That sentiment, while particularly relevant to students, is just as important, I think, for scholars.  There are easy projects, and there are hard projects.  There are a number of reasons to do both, but I must say the ones I have found the most rewarding were the projects that had me waking up in the middle of the night trying to figure out a piece of the puzzle.   I tend to work on a few projects at a time, which allows me to remain “productive,” while I really mull over the hard stuff.  The hard projects can (and have and will) take years, but when you finally figure it out, boy is it worth the effort. 

Here is to a year full of fun, learning, discomfort, and growth for all involved!