As next year approaches, we, the email inboxes on 1Ls are flooded with invitations to informational meetings about all the great things we can do here.  No, I’m not being facetious; there really are a lot of great things to be involved in next year.  The problem I’ve found is decided how to say no.

 I have thus far done a pretty terrible job of saying no.  I’m applying to the General Practice Program, I just ran for Senator for our class (still waiting for the results to go public), I’m thinking of trying out for the Trial Advocacy Team, I just sent in my application for Ambassador, and, of course, I want to be on Law Review.  This is all in addition to what I’m currently doing — International Law Society, Environmental Education, Baccus Society — and the challenges that every 2L has to face, most notedly Appellate.

 Why am I planning so many things for next year?  Well, there’s always padding the resume.  Then there’s the attempt to reform my lack of involvement thus far by taking on more than I should.  Most importantly, though, I’m afraid that I’m not going to get accepted into any of these things.  A lot of them require applying, trying out, or otherwise “making the cut.”  While I probably should have more confidence, I don’t.  I honest to goodness had a nightmare last night because I didn’t make Law Review.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  Is this what my life has become?

So what’s the worst that could happen?  Well, I won’t get into anything new and will just keep up my current activities (and probably do better in school).  Or, I could get in to some of the things and rejected for others.  Finally, I could get in to everything.  While my grades would probably go down, I think my general experience would be greatly enhanced.  And, that’s exactly what I did in undergrad (mostly because I didn’t have to try out for most of the activities), and it worked just fine.

We’ll see.