I have always been a busy body, these days termed “high functioning” with an active imagination and waves of pure energy. In an Undergraduate institution one is offered many opportunities to join, lead and administrate. In law school this tendency can be dangerous. There are tasks to be done and clubs to be run. Some organizations are just for fun and some have an educational component, all involve tapping into a limited commodity… time.

VLS has myriad student groups offering a significant amount of diversity and opportunity to any and all comers. It’s a beautiful thing, and one of the most attractive characteristics of this otherwise rural campus life. One can join an affinity group to learn about other cultures or be active in their own, or learn a skill like Martial Arts or Mountaineering, in fact you can do them all– at the same time. Therein lies the rub. You can do it all but it may not be in your best interest to do so.

Law school is hard but, the hardest part of it is the level of self mastery that it requires. You must first master your calendar, requiring that you know your own strength, stamina and develop foresight. Qui bono? You do, if you can figure out how to make the most of a community minded, public interest instinct in the medium of limited time and resources. No one here will tell you that being member of this or monarch of that is beyond you, nor should they. However, I am happy to advise you to choose your extracurricular attachments wisely. Many campus organizations are artful at strengthening much needed personal skill sets like networking, project management and general leadership skills. However, they can also lead to a loss of focus if the balance isn’t just right for you.

How do you know when you’ve found the right balance of curricular and extracurricular activities?

1-You have prioritized your schoolwork over other commitments.

2-You sleep regularly, or as regularly as a law student can sleep.

3- You can take meals with friends and loved ones without turning them into working meals.

4- You can avoid getting emotional with your peers about club related matters.

5-You are happy with your position and related responsibilities in the organization with whom you are affiliated.

If you can’t say that the above attributes are akin to your experience, you may be over-committed. Consider scaling back. You’ll find that the school won’t close down if your campus group is less than revolutionary.

TDT