JD Law Students Blog

The job I had right before I left for law school was the best job I have ever had.  I managed about 300 rental units at two neighboring properties for the largest owner/operator of rental properties in my home state.  They were awesome to us.  I got a $600 allowance to purchase snappy suits from JC Penney’s, they flew me to Seattle for orientation, paid for a private hotel room, meals, a rental car, and about three months into work, paid for private rooms at Alyeska Ski Resort, our meals, and tuition for for a three-day ”Successful Life Course” taught by Ed Foreman and Earlene Vining of Executive Development Systems. 

My god. 

I’ve heard inspirational speakers before… but I’d call Ed a motivational speaker, which I consider to be a little different.  What was nice was that the conference was not how to be a better manager, or employee, or sales person, but just about how to have a terrific day, every day.  It was, intuitively, simply about how to have a successful life.  I really think that, while the company got its benefits from having its employees attend the course, it was a really gracious, kind, and superb gesture for the company to tell us that they simply wanted the best for us - that they wanted us to have a good day, every day, no matter WHAT we did…

I left the company after only 7 months.  I had been applying to law schools on a whim - not even caring too much.  After all, I had a great job doing something I enjoyed.  I was moving up quickly, being trusted with a budget of over a million dollars while allowing me to be responsible for coordinating multiple properties bringing in almost $3.5 million each year in revenue.  I was saving money every month, and I had free rent, a brand new marriage, and a baby on the way.   I was having a great time!

Something, however, told me that there was more - that I could achieve more, that I could achieve whatever I could envision.  That person was Ed Foreman, g-d bless him.  He believes in everyone who comes through his course and only asks that you consider what you might do, to capture that vision, and to imagine yourself doing it.  One day, you will wake up and you will be there…

Well, here it is, that day!

I’ve finished my first years worth of classes at law school.  Not only that, but I’ve finished my first year of classes at a law school whose Environmental Law Program has been ranked either #1 or #2 since U.S. News & World Report started ranking schools in that category.  I did it.  I made it.  I’m proud of myself, even though we still have exams.  Exams?  I’m stoked about exams!  I can’t wait.  I can smoke those things too.  With my eyes closed. 

And the best part… I get to go live in Alaska and in San Diego this summer because, although I started late, I snagged two… that’s right, two… prime legal internships this summer.  I get to see what it is like to be a part of the Navy JAG Corps and I found an government agency in Alaska that is known for its environmental work that was willing to offer me, as a first year law student, a paying internship doing legal work under attorney supervision. 

I not only faced down the challenges of having my own family to worry about, but I faced the challenges of close family developing potentially life-threatening illness.  I faced multiple slides into ditches, a flipped car, living on top of a mountain, hour plus drives to Starbucks and Costco, gas stations that close at 9pm, family visits during spring break, cancelled vacations, tons of snow, financial challenges, and a host of other brutal inevitabilities of life…. and I made it - not a problem.  And everyone else here, they made it too. 

I am d-mn proud of all of us.  We did it.  And I’ll be back next year, and the year after - so long as G-d/fate be willing.

< Since I mentioned Ed’s program, I feel compelled to issue a disclaimer that ALL the opinions and views expressed herein are mine and do not represent those of Vermont Law.  Though this is a VLS Blog, the views I express are mine.  I have not the standing to express views here other than my own. >