Happy thoughts! (photo via Getty)
Ed. note: This post was originally published on December 1, 2017. We have republished this article to bring peace of mind to our law school audience during this stressful period.
“Without a wrinkle in today, cuz there’s no tomorrow/Just a picture perfect day that lasts a whole lifetime.” — Jay-Z
It’s the final month of the year. For law students, this means it’s the end time (also called end times, end of time, end of days, last days, final days, or eschaton) or, better known to the general-education audience: final exams.
Unlike grading in other schools, curriculums, or type of studies, law school courses often base your grades completely on the final exams.
This makes law school quite an intense learning atmosphere as well as a stressful environment that can cause adverse mental health effects. One grade can make you feel like Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, while another mark may make you feel like an abject failure. But rest assured, do the reading and put the time in, and you will be okay. We’ve all been there.
This week also marks the 11th Annual V Week for Cancer Research. It’s a good annual reminder not to treat each situation (or final exam for that matter) as life or death because you’ll die a lot of times. Write that down.
Almost two decades ago (in 1993), ESPN awarded the legendary and national-title winning basketball coach Jim Valvano its first Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award. Valvano would pass away from cancer one month later. In his last months of his life, he founded the V Foundation with the purpose of researching a cure for cancer. Since its inception, over $200 million in cancer research grants has been awarded nationwide by the V Foundation, which donates 100% of all its donations.
As the 13th Annual V Week gets underway, you will likely see a highlight or two of Jimmy V’s acceptance speech. During his last month on earth, he gave one of the greatest acceptance speeches of all time. At the time, he may have needed help off the stage, but over twenty years later he is remembered for the ten minutes of energy, passion, and wisdom he gave on stage at the inaugural Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award ceremony.
Law students, I implore you to take ten minutes from your finals cramming sessions to watch Valvano’s farewell address. Turn it on during your Domino’s Pizza, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, or Sour Patch Kids snack break. Or listen to it during your midnight drive home while you’re having an existential crisis. It will certainly help you take a moment to relax and gain some proper perspective on the challenges facing you.
Many lines from his speech have been highlighted and recited before, but I thought I’d share my favorite part of Valvano’s speech with you:
It’s so important to know where you are. I know where I am right now. How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal. You have to be willing to work for it.
I just got one last thing; I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get your emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day, and Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm,” to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality.
I often revert to Valvano’s words when I’m going through a trying time. I hope you’ll remember his sage advice during your next few weeks of testing. You have to be willing to work for it — do the reading and put the time in, and you will be okay.
Final exam season is notoriously difficult. It may not seem this way right now, but you will be better because of it. Keep the dream alive!
After all, you are one step closer to becoming an attorney … or at least a few weeks away from winter break.
Renwei Chung is the Diversity Columnist at Above the Law. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on LinkedIn.