Twice since arriving at Tulane I've been told that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to "master" a skill. Apparently, that works out to about five years....
If that's true, I've already mastered the practice of law. I mean, sure I wasn't Licensed By The State, but I know from living in a law office day in and day out for five years what it takes to be a good lawyer. I've been there and done that every step of the way along with those who were duly licensed, with the exception of the Official Courtroom Proceedings...
I'm loving law school because it's school - challenging and rewarding - but I miss the actual practice of law. This is actually encouraging, however, because it has me totally convinced that I'm on the right path. If I find myself eager to find a law office job and again do Real Legal Work, then most certainly law school was, in spite of all the doubt and worry and difficulty of the past few weeks and months, really and truly a Good Idea.
For the time being, however, it's back to the books. School has been demanding lately (as if that's anything new), and the sorry part is that it's going to get much, much worse before it gets any better. For the past two weeks we were busy and distracted with the stress of practice exams. Although they were only practice and not for any kind of grade, to benefit from it one had to put forth something resembling the effort and time required to prepare for a Real Law School Exam. This week brought our first Real Research Writing Project Deadline, as well as the first session of a Career Development mini-course.
And all the while I'm still reading cases and learning doctrines, because practice makes perfect.
But what I miss is the day-to-day practice of law in the Real World. I'm caught up in the Ivory Tower in a way that I've never actually before been. (It used to be, in my previous scholastic endeavors, that my law office wage-earning work kept me firmly tethered to the Real World, but now I find myself steeped in the academy in a way that borders on suffocation.) What I'm doing now - right now - doesn't matter to anyone. No one is depending on me to do something with a piece of paper that will have a lasting, meaningful impact on someone's life course. I'm just reading cases long decided, and analyzing and writing about hypothetical legal problems. All the while there's Real Legal Problems happening, out there in the Real World, but they are wholly disconnected from my current endeavors.
So I'll continue diligently working, in eager anticipation of the day when the Law School Hazing is over and I can start taking baby-steps into the Real World as a Real Lawyer...
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
a carrell with a view
I have a lovely view from my favorite study spot in the Law Library:
The photo doesn't actually do it justice. In real life the NOLA sky-line can be seen much more clearly from the 5th story of Tulane's law library.
And it is from this vantage point that I watch the hours of the day, and the days of the week, and the weeks of the month pass me by.
My days begin around 6am with a round of sun salutations, even though the sun cannot be seen from within our little basement apartment. Then I pack myself a healthy lunch, and blend up a healthy liquid breakfast in the form of a fruit-soymilk-lowfat yogurt-and flaxseed-smoothie.
After getting dressed and double-checking that I have all required books for the day as well as weather appropriate accessories, I head out to catch the 7:15 streetcar. Sometimes I miss it, and end up on the 7:25 streetcar instead. Other times I'm early enough to get on the 7:05 streetcar.
But I'm always on campus by8am. I stop off at my locker where I stow away my lunch and any reading materials that aren't immediately necessary. And, depending on the day, I either head directly up to my 5th floor carrell, or to class at 8:30. If it's an 8:30-class-day, then I'll be in the library by 10am.
And there I settle in, unpacking my bag and spreading my personalty about the carrell like strategically placed soldiers. As I read and think and write the hours pass by. At the appointed times I pack up and go to class, or go eat lunch in the courtyard when hunger strikes, but then I'll retreat once again to this safe place of quiet and solitude until the day is done and I retire to the comfort of home, hubby, and kitties. (And even there I must diligently continue to read and write and think about the law.)
The photo doesn't actually do it justice. In real life the NOLA sky-line can be seen much more clearly from the 5th story of Tulane's law library.And it is from this vantage point that I watch the hours of the day, and the days of the week, and the weeks of the month pass me by.
My days begin around 6am with a round of sun salutations, even though the sun cannot be seen from within our little basement apartment. Then I pack myself a healthy lunch, and blend up a healthy liquid breakfast in the form of a fruit-soymilk-lowfat yogurt-and flaxseed-smoothie.
After getting dressed and double-checking that I have all required books for the day as well as weather appropriate accessories, I head out to catch the 7:15 streetcar. Sometimes I miss it, and end up on the 7:25 streetcar instead. Other times I'm early enough to get on the 7:05 streetcar.
But I'm always on campus by8am. I stop off at my locker where I stow away my lunch and any reading materials that aren't immediately necessary. And, depending on the day, I either head directly up to my 5th floor carrell, or to class at 8:30. If it's an 8:30-class-day, then I'll be in the library by 10am.
And there I settle in, unpacking my bag and spreading my personalty about the carrell like strategically placed soldiers. As I read and think and write the hours pass by. At the appointed times I pack up and go to class, or go eat lunch in the courtyard when hunger strikes, but then I'll retreat once again to this safe place of quiet and solitude until the day is done and I retire to the comfort of home, hubby, and kitties. (And even there I must diligently continue to read and write and think about the law.)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
why torts?
The new machines [of the Industrial Revolution] had a marvelous, unprecedented capacity for smashing the human body.– Lawrence Friedman, 2005
A History of American Law
I simply love this quote. There's something spectacular about the words "marvelous, unprecedented capacity for smashing the human body" that really speaks to me.
AND, perhaps more importantly, they helped me to understand the purpose of the law of torts. In a complex society such as we now live in (thanks to the machinery made possible by the industrial revolution) unintended injuries are unavoidable. The costs of these injuries can either be left to lie where they fall, caught in a well-weaved social welfare net, or distributed in some other way.
Tort Law functions as the third option. Since Capitalist America won't be having any of that social welfare stuff, but we still hold dear to ideals such as equity, Tort Law serves to distribute the costs of injuries more evenly among the members of society. (Caveat: My understanding of all this may yet change; for instance, I can't yet speak to intentional torts; it is, after all, only the 2nd week of class.)
Regard Maxine Hammontree, who was working in her bicycle shop one sunny afternoon when a car comes crashing into the wall, injuring her and damaging her shop. The driver, Tom Jenner, suffered an epileptic seizure and lost control of his car. Maxine files a tort action to gain access to Tom's insurance, and in doing so seeks to distribute the costs of her injury where it can better be absorbed.
Nevermind the outcome of the case or the finer points of law I've been analyzing for a week. It was the first case in Torts for a reason: it perfectly illustrates the need for the Law of Torts. Folks get hurt all the time for reasons that were out of their control. They incur medical bills, and sometimes they can't go back to work. They need help, and often there's not any available unless an action can be brought based on the law of torts.
I used to think tort law was a flimsy mechanism by which greedy lazy folks leeched off of large corporations. Now I see that tort law exists for a genuinely good reason, which makes me much more interested in the subject matter of this class.
old hat
Universal insurance, if desired, can be better and more cheaply accomplished by private enterprise.– O.W. Holmes, 1881
The Common Law
While I haven’t the time to elaborate and/or share my own perspective regarding the health care debate, I just wanted to share this little reminder of the fact that history does have a way of repeating itself.
initial impressions
So far, so good. A week and a day into the Law School Experience, and I don't hate it yet.
Sure enough, I was feeling absolutely overwhelmed at the beginning of the first week, but as the days slowly pass by I feel as though I'm settling into a groove of intense focus and acute diligence. If I can keep up the momentum, I think I'll be okay.
My classes are all great, and if I'm crazy for thinking that, so be it; but I'm totally enjoying this. From Contracts to Criminal Law, Civil Procedure and Torts. The Legal Research and Writing class is the only one that's at all dull. (And it doesn't help that it's at 4pm, which just happens to be the time every day when my mind kicks out of high gear after go-go-going since 6am.)
All of my professors are awesome, and in that regard I feel I am very fortunate; others I've talked with have at least one professor they would rather not have. Perhaps my insanely positive attitude helps in this regard.
The atmosphere here is one of congeniality amongst the students and absolute support from the faculty. None of that Socratic humiliation here. Sure, the Socratic method is utilized, but it is with rhyme and reason and with no intent other than to help us orally articulate our budding legal minds.
And the competition among the students is barely palpable beneath the surface. Sure we will be ranked at the end of the year, but right now we're all just struggling to stay alfoat, and thus more than willing to help one another. From my perspective, the rankings are little to compete over, because in the end it will boil down to each individual's dedication, diligence, and natural capacity for legal reasoning.
The campus itself is spectacular. I feel as if I have finally arrived to a place where I belong. I've never been to a school like this: an old, prestigious university, with oak-lined lanes and old stone buildings. And yet it is the kind of place I've always imagined myself belonging. It's as if I have always known I would someday, somehow get to a place like Tulane, steeped in history and beauty and busting at the seams for all the knowledge it has to offer me, but I never quite knew how it would happen that I might find myself in such a place. And yet here I am, and it's difficult to convince myself that this is, in fact, my campus. In time familiarity and comfort will replace the intimidation and novelty, and I'll feel as at home here as I ever did at JSU.
In some ways I feel like it's 1997 and I'm a freshman all over again, and in some ways that is true; amongst the upperclassmen, the faculty and staff, I'm just another new face. But I'm making friends. The variety of people I've encountered is stunning. It stands in stark contrast to my experience at JSU, where folks seemed to have been pressed from a half-dozen or so molds. At Tulane, my fellow 1Ls come from all over the country and the world, they're of all age groups (I'm not the only married student for a change! And some are even parents, too!), and there's a variety of ethnic and cultural groups represented.
It's odd to find myself here, coming from JSU. There, it was obvious that I did not belong, and I had become accustomed to being the odd student out. Here the situation is wholly different; I feel as if I belong, and I feel a sense of camaraderie with all of my fellow 1Ls. But at the same time, I feel acutely aware of my difference. I'm the girl who only completed the 9th grade. I'm the one who took the alternative route: GED to junior college, and then to university and now law school. I don't have the common bonds that many of the younger students share: high school prom, graduation, moving away to college, dorm life, and so on and so forth. My path has been one less traveled, and yet I've arrived just the same. The differences between myself and my classmates at JSU were both external and internal; here the difference is almost wholly internal, and so it is a different sort of chasm to navigate in order to cultivate friendships. And I'm positive that I'll leave Tulane with several friends for life, which were a rare commodity at JSU.
All in all, I'm completely enamored. This is absolutely one of the best decisions of my life, and the most satisfying, awesome thing about it is that I'm here thanks to little more than my wits and my perseverance.
There's a ton of work waiting for me, and it's going to be a challenge, but one I'll be able to meet, and in the end I'll be so much better for it. So, bring it on, I say.
Sure enough, I was feeling absolutely overwhelmed at the beginning of the first week, but as the days slowly pass by I feel as though I'm settling into a groove of intense focus and acute diligence. If I can keep up the momentum, I think I'll be okay.
My classes are all great, and if I'm crazy for thinking that, so be it; but I'm totally enjoying this. From Contracts to Criminal Law, Civil Procedure and Torts. The Legal Research and Writing class is the only one that's at all dull. (And it doesn't help that it's at 4pm, which just happens to be the time every day when my mind kicks out of high gear after go-go-going since 6am.)
All of my professors are awesome, and in that regard I feel I am very fortunate; others I've talked with have at least one professor they would rather not have. Perhaps my insanely positive attitude helps in this regard.
The atmosphere here is one of congeniality amongst the students and absolute support from the faculty. None of that Socratic humiliation here. Sure, the Socratic method is utilized, but it is with rhyme and reason and with no intent other than to help us orally articulate our budding legal minds.
And the competition among the students is barely palpable beneath the surface. Sure we will be ranked at the end of the year, but right now we're all just struggling to stay alfoat, and thus more than willing to help one another. From my perspective, the rankings are little to compete over, because in the end it will boil down to each individual's dedication, diligence, and natural capacity for legal reasoning.
The campus itself is spectacular. I feel as if I have finally arrived to a place where I belong. I've never been to a school like this: an old, prestigious university, with oak-lined lanes and old stone buildings. And yet it is the kind of place I've always imagined myself belonging. It's as if I have always known I would someday, somehow get to a place like Tulane, steeped in history and beauty and busting at the seams for all the knowledge it has to offer me, but I never quite knew how it would happen that I might find myself in such a place. And yet here I am, and it's difficult to convince myself that this is, in fact, my campus. In time familiarity and comfort will replace the intimidation and novelty, and I'll feel as at home here as I ever did at JSU.
In some ways I feel like it's 1997 and I'm a freshman all over again, and in some ways that is true; amongst the upperclassmen, the faculty and staff, I'm just another new face. But I'm making friends. The variety of people I've encountered is stunning. It stands in stark contrast to my experience at JSU, where folks seemed to have been pressed from a half-dozen or so molds. At Tulane, my fellow 1Ls come from all over the country and the world, they're of all age groups (I'm not the only married student for a change! And some are even parents, too!), and there's a variety of ethnic and cultural groups represented.
It's odd to find myself here, coming from JSU. There, it was obvious that I did not belong, and I had become accustomed to being the odd student out. Here the situation is wholly different; I feel as if I belong, and I feel a sense of camaraderie with all of my fellow 1Ls. But at the same time, I feel acutely aware of my difference. I'm the girl who only completed the 9th grade. I'm the one who took the alternative route: GED to junior college, and then to university and now law school. I don't have the common bonds that many of the younger students share: high school prom, graduation, moving away to college, dorm life, and so on and so forth. My path has been one less traveled, and yet I've arrived just the same. The differences between myself and my classmates at JSU were both external and internal; here the difference is almost wholly internal, and so it is a different sort of chasm to navigate in order to cultivate friendships. And I'm positive that I'll leave Tulane with several friends for life, which were a rare commodity at JSU.
All in all, I'm completely enamored. This is absolutely one of the best decisions of my life, and the most satisfying, awesome thing about it is that I'm here thanks to little more than my wits and my perseverance.
There's a ton of work waiting for me, and it's going to be a challenge, but one I'll be able to meet, and in the end I'll be so much better for it. So, bring it on, I say.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
getting oriented
Today was the first day of orientation, and it stands out in my mind as little more than a blur of new faces walking through the humid August air, like myself, trying to make sense of the fact that their 1L journey has begun. This, punctuated by gems such as this quote from Charles Hamilton Houston: "A lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society," which, together, cumulatively served as poignant reminders of the fact that I am on the right path after all.
So at this point I'm feeling confident and good, because if there's anything I want to do in this life it's to help "engineer society" in virtuous, meaningful ways. And much of the substance of today's programs re-convinced me of my ability to do that, especially once I'm armed with that TLS degree and all that I shall endure to obtain it.
I have more to share, but I'm exhausted from my efforts to take in and retain some meaningful portion of the deluge of information which swept over me today, not to mention the physical exertion of walking to and fro all the day long, and I simply must get some rest so that I can be prepared to do it again tomorrow.
More impressions will follow...
So at this point I'm feeling confident and good, because if there's anything I want to do in this life it's to help "engineer society" in virtuous, meaningful ways. And much of the substance of today's programs re-convinced me of my ability to do that, especially once I'm armed with that TLS degree and all that I shall endure to obtain it.
I have more to share, but I'm exhausted from my efforts to take in and retain some meaningful portion of the deluge of information which swept over me today, not to mention the physical exertion of walking to and fro all the day long, and I simply must get some rest so that I can be prepared to do it again tomorrow.
More impressions will follow...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
battening down
Today marks my last day of life-before-law-school.
The maelstrom begins tomorrow with orientation; it won't be long before I'm struggling to stay afloat in a sea of legal thought, theory, writing, rules, and regulations.
In preparation of the importance of my obligation to be punctual and prepared tomorrow, I'm about to leave to make a test-run on the streetcar to get my timing figured out. Not only must I rely on public transportation to get me to campus on time - a heretofore alien concept - but I must then walk approximately half-a-mile from the streetcar stop to Weinmann Hall. And I don't yet know how long all of this is going to take me. Of course, once I figure that out I'll be departing the house earlier than I think I should the first couple of times, until I feel more comfortable with the reliability of the streetcar's timetable.
Otherwise, I must finish my started-but-not-yet-completed orientation reading assignments, and pick out a "business casual" outfit (as suggested by TLS) for Wednesday which will be cool and comfortable but still make for good first impressions.
Then, there will be little left to do but wait for tomorrow to come and for this Big Thing I've been so eagerly anticipating to actually happen. Chamomile tea will certainly be necessary to help me prepare myself mentally without too much worry.
The maelstrom begins tomorrow with orientation; it won't be long before I'm struggling to stay afloat in a sea of legal thought, theory, writing, rules, and regulations.
In preparation of the importance of my obligation to be punctual and prepared tomorrow, I'm about to leave to make a test-run on the streetcar to get my timing figured out. Not only must I rely on public transportation to get me to campus on time - a heretofore alien concept - but I must then walk approximately half-a-mile from the streetcar stop to Weinmann Hall. And I don't yet know how long all of this is going to take me. Of course, once I figure that out I'll be departing the house earlier than I think I should the first couple of times, until I feel more comfortable with the reliability of the streetcar's timetable.
Otherwise, I must finish my started-but-not-yet-completed orientation reading assignments, and pick out a "business casual" outfit (as suggested by TLS) for Wednesday which will be cool and comfortable but still make for good first impressions.
Then, there will be little left to do but wait for tomorrow to come and for this Big Thing I've been so eagerly anticipating to actually happen. Chamomile tea will certainly be necessary to help me prepare myself mentally without too much worry.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
in another town
Well, I survived the hottest, longest, most miserable move ever (note: never, ever move to New Orleans in July if you can help it). And it was followed by several weeks without internet connectivity, but now all that mess is behind me.
Happily, although the move seemed to take forever-and-a-day, and was indeed unbearably hot, the process of settling in has gone much more smoothly than the process of getting here. It has been slow-going, but almost everything has now found its place. My proudest achievement is that all of the books are now categorized - a feat which hasn't been accomplished in far too long - and all have been neatly shelved in a manner which Adam has termed the Jacqui-decimal system, despite the absence of decimals or digits from the system. The closets are busting at their seams, but that's okay, because less than a half-dozen boxes remain to be sorted and unpacked.
So it goes that this little Garden District apartment - while perhaps a bit too small in actuality - continues to morph into a lovely home for us. 'Tis not my secluded duplex with three years' worth of memories, but when I stop playing the comparison game this new little place is quite nice on its own merit.
Yesterday I cooked from-scratch eggs benedict po-boys, which I paired with mimosas, and it was the perfect NOLA brunch. It was a celebration of sorts, of our last day off together before Adam starts his new job and I get thrown into the madness of being a 1L.
When I'm alone in the bedroom such as now I can hear the St. Charles streetcar roaring past. It's a sound I'm starting to get accustomed to, just like many other things about this truly unique city...
Happily, although the move seemed to take forever-and-a-day, and was indeed unbearably hot, the process of settling in has gone much more smoothly than the process of getting here. It has been slow-going, but almost everything has now found its place. My proudest achievement is that all of the books are now categorized - a feat which hasn't been accomplished in far too long - and all have been neatly shelved in a manner which Adam has termed the Jacqui-decimal system, despite the absence of decimals or digits from the system. The closets are busting at their seams, but that's okay, because less than a half-dozen boxes remain to be sorted and unpacked.
So it goes that this little Garden District apartment - while perhaps a bit too small in actuality - continues to morph into a lovely home for us. 'Tis not my secluded duplex with three years' worth of memories, but when I stop playing the comparison game this new little place is quite nice on its own merit.
Yesterday I cooked from-scratch eggs benedict po-boys, which I paired with mimosas, and it was the perfect NOLA brunch. It was a celebration of sorts, of our last day off together before Adam starts his new job and I get thrown into the madness of being a 1L.
When I'm alone in the bedroom such as now I can hear the St. Charles streetcar roaring past. It's a sound I'm starting to get accustomed to, just like many other things about this truly unique city...
Thursday, July 2, 2009
life as a chapter book
As I write this I ought to be packing, but I've convinced myself that I deserve a few leisure moments to sip my coffee and enjoy the therapeutic indulgence of writing my thoughts instead.
My time at Allen & Conway officially ended on Tuesday, June 30. I am living now in a bizarre sort of flux as my days here grow immensely short. I'm technically unemployed until I find a job in New Orleans. My house has been emptied of many of its defining elements (dining room furniture, couches, books on shelves) and is filled instead with boxes, a state which inevitably occurs when a move is imminent, and which I affectionately refer to as "Box House." Our handy-dandy Honda FIT has been in cargo-mode for several days now, and The Move officially commences tomorrow when the big truck gets loaded up and what little furniture we still have gets transported with the multitude of boxes to the Crescent City. After that, we'll take it slow and easy for a few days, living in a truly in-between state whilst transporting any straggler boxes, clothes, and the like in the FIT. Our bed is staying here until Monday, when we'll take it down in a borrowed pick-up truck and the kitties will be transported in twin kitty-kennels in the FIT.
It feels weird to be leaving all of this behind: the stress of my job, the familiarity of this city, and the company of dear friends. But this chapter of my life is coming to a close, and only so much can carry over. Truly, it is time; 9 years makes for a long chapter. The new chapter awaits with a new setting, a new cast of supporting characters, new challenges, opportunities, and accomplishments. And even while I'm eager to move away and proceed with the story of my life, I'm more than a little pained to turn the page and leave this chapter in the past.
So it goes, I suppose, that as one moves on to bigger and better things, the comfort of routine and familiarity must fall by the wayside, at least temporarily. And frequent goodbyes, as I well know, are part and parcel of this modern mobile life. Thus continues my life as a chapter book, with the Jackson chapter coming to a quick close and the New Orleans chapter patiently waiting for this page to turn.
My time at Allen & Conway officially ended on Tuesday, June 30. I am living now in a bizarre sort of flux as my days here grow immensely short. I'm technically unemployed until I find a job in New Orleans. My house has been emptied of many of its defining elements (dining room furniture, couches, books on shelves) and is filled instead with boxes, a state which inevitably occurs when a move is imminent, and which I affectionately refer to as "Box House." Our handy-dandy Honda FIT has been in cargo-mode for several days now, and The Move officially commences tomorrow when the big truck gets loaded up and what little furniture we still have gets transported with the multitude of boxes to the Crescent City. After that, we'll take it slow and easy for a few days, living in a truly in-between state whilst transporting any straggler boxes, clothes, and the like in the FIT. Our bed is staying here until Monday, when we'll take it down in a borrowed pick-up truck and the kitties will be transported in twin kitty-kennels in the FIT.
It feels weird to be leaving all of this behind: the stress of my job, the familiarity of this city, and the company of dear friends. But this chapter of my life is coming to a close, and only so much can carry over. Truly, it is time; 9 years makes for a long chapter. The new chapter awaits with a new setting, a new cast of supporting characters, new challenges, opportunities, and accomplishments. And even while I'm eager to move away and proceed with the story of my life, I'm more than a little pained to turn the page and leave this chapter in the past.
So it goes, I suppose, that as one moves on to bigger and better things, the comfort of routine and familiarity must fall by the wayside, at least temporarily. And frequent goodbyes, as I well know, are part and parcel of this modern mobile life. Thus continues my life as a chapter book, with the Jackson chapter coming to a quick close and the New Orleans chapter patiently waiting for this page to turn.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
beginnings and endings
Final grades for the Spring semester have been issued, and I managed to wrap up my tenure as a graduate student with a 4.0. Yay!
I only hope that I can keep up the momentum in law school. I doubt it, though. Perusing Tulane’s recent honorees leads me to believe that there must be one really difficult class, because all of the honorees – some of whom were at the top of their class – had GPAs in the 3.8 range. But I shall try my hardest and hope for the best.
People lately have been telling me “Congratulations,” and it still catches me by surprise. I was congratulated when I got married, and when I graduated last May, which makes sense to me. Going to law school doesn’t exactly strike me as the kind of thing one would be congratulated for – am I being commended for going into enormous debt? extolled for uprooting my family? praised for committing three more years of my life to more formal education? I suppose it is the achievement of getting accepted into a prestigious old law school that is being congratulated, but somehow it doesn’t feel like much of an achievement right now. No, right now it feels like a terrifying blind leap, taken on the chance and hope that this course will make a happier life for myself and my family in the long run.
Tulane offers me the following advice:
So I’ve lately resorted to reading The Witching Hour as a means to distract myself. And it seems to be working. That dense, lengthy Anne Rice novel which first caused me to fall in love with New Orleans does wonders to calm my nerves. And while offering the comfort of a previously read book, the story seems so much more vivid this time around, now that I have experienced the charm of the Crescent City first-hand, and it is no longer simply a made-up story-stage in my mind.
But this in-between time is bittersweet. Although my mind is mostly in New Orleans lately, my heart aches at certain Jackson sights. Like the flag pole in my cul-de-sac that's been crooked since the 4/4 tornado of 2008:
Something about these waning spring days strikes me as exceptionally splendid. Each magnolia blossom and cool crisp breeze brings a wave of nostalgia for something I haven’t even left yet, but which I know I will miss dearly. And though I know that this town will not fall off the face of the earth when I depart, I also know how it is to move away and return to a place you used to know intimately. Each change – a new building here, a widened street there – seems forced and artificial when you’re not around to witness a city’s organic growth. So it goes that I know visiting will never be the same, even as my time here goes shorter with each sunset. And even while I mourn my absence from this place that’s come to be my home over the last decade, I eagerly await building a new life, as a law student at Tulane University. It is so very exciting, after all.
I only hope that I can keep up the momentum in law school. I doubt it, though. Perusing Tulane’s recent honorees leads me to believe that there must be one really difficult class, because all of the honorees – some of whom were at the top of their class – had GPAs in the 3.8 range. But I shall try my hardest and hope for the best.
People lately have been telling me “Congratulations,” and it still catches me by surprise. I was congratulated when I got married, and when I graduated last May, which makes sense to me. Going to law school doesn’t exactly strike me as the kind of thing one would be congratulated for – am I being commended for going into enormous debt? extolled for uprooting my family? praised for committing three more years of my life to more formal education? I suppose it is the achievement of getting accepted into a prestigious old law school that is being congratulated, but somehow it doesn’t feel like much of an achievement right now. No, right now it feels like a terrifying blind leap, taken on the chance and hope that this course will make a happier life for myself and my family in the long run.
Tulane offers me the following advice:
Relax this summer, and be ready to work hard when school starts.And while that’s comforting to hear, the stress of the pending move makes it difficult. I know that it will all work out, but the uncertainty – the not yet knowing precisely how it all will unfold – is what eats away at me. As conscientious as I’d like to be – trying sometimes in vain to diligently make preparations and plans for The Move – in the end I realize that there’s only so much control I can exert on the way this chapter of my life shall end.
So I’ve lately resorted to reading The Witching Hour as a means to distract myself. And it seems to be working. That dense, lengthy Anne Rice novel which first caused me to fall in love with New Orleans does wonders to calm my nerves. And while offering the comfort of a previously read book, the story seems so much more vivid this time around, now that I have experienced the charm of the Crescent City first-hand, and it is no longer simply a made-up story-stage in my mind.
But this in-between time is bittersweet. Although my mind is mostly in New Orleans lately, my heart aches at certain Jackson sights. Like the flag pole in my cul-de-sac that's been crooked since the 4/4 tornado of 2008:
Something about these waning spring days strikes me as exceptionally splendid. Each magnolia blossom and cool crisp breeze brings a wave of nostalgia for something I haven’t even left yet, but which I know I will miss dearly. And though I know that this town will not fall off the face of the earth when I depart, I also know how it is to move away and return to a place you used to know intimately. Each change – a new building here, a widened street there – seems forced and artificial when you’re not around to witness a city’s organic growth. So it goes that I know visiting will never be the same, even as my time here goes shorter with each sunset. And even while I mourn my absence from this place that’s come to be my home over the last decade, I eagerly await building a new life, as a law student at Tulane University. It is so very exciting, after all.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
lessons learned
Well, the semester is finally over and done, and with it my time at JSU comes to an end. It’s been a good three years; for all the trial and tribulations, not only do I have a degree (and 4 graduate credits should I ever decide to return to grad school), but I have a wealth of knowledge and experiences that are priceless and that have indelibly shaped my life’s course for the better.
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that, while my conscientiousness and thoughtfulness sometimes cause me unnecessary stress, they are, in fact, traits which serve me well. It is none other than these traits which cause me to consistently put out quality work, whether in school or at work. And the important lesson here is this: So long as I put forth my best effort to meet my own (overly high) expectations, I will nearly always exceed the expectations of others, and certainly meet them at the very least.
My research paper experience made this plain to me. Despite my fretting over the last few weeks, in the end I cranked out what I deem to be a solid piece of scholarly work, and I was actually proud of what I turned in to my professors. I’m still waiting on feedback before I revise it for submission to the Preyer scholars competition, but I feel good about the work that I’ve done, which is a pleasant feeling indeed.
This semester has also taught me that, while others may indeed share the passion and fervor for knowledge that fuels my scholastic endeavors, I do have an innate advantage which lies inside my skull. Although I often times curse my intelligence because I’m constantly over-thinking everything and from time to time it seems to impede my ability to reach a mindstate even resembling the ignorant bliss of the masses, in the end I am grateful to have a sharp, keen mind with which to understand the world around me.
I’m writing this not to toot my own horn, but because I know I’ll be entering a whole new world at Tulane Law School. I’ll be surrounded by other bright, driven young folks as opposed to the poorly educated slackers who comprised the bulk of my so-called “peers” at JSU. And I’m certain that in law school I’ll face intellectual challenges unlike any I’ve encountered thus far in my educational adventures. That being the case, this is simply an exercise in bolstering my assurance in myself; a way to store up my confidence for those inevitable times in the coming years when I’ll be questioning myself and my ability to succeed.
With the semester over and done I’ve returned to work full time, which sucks in a way I’ll not indulge myself in describing, because it does no good to dwell on such unpleasantries. All there is to do is suck it up, grin, and bear it for the next several weeks. The tricky part is going to be reserving enough mental energy to plan and effectuate The Move after working 9+ hour days, but I’ve no doubt that I’ll make it work, someway somehow.
In addition to planning The Move, I’ve got many projects underway, most of which are related in some way to relocating my household or remaking my life into that of a law student. Redesigning this blog and my web presence over at jkhammack.com are among these projects, so be on the lookout for changes and links and such, as well as more regular postings.
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that, while my conscientiousness and thoughtfulness sometimes cause me unnecessary stress, they are, in fact, traits which serve me well. It is none other than these traits which cause me to consistently put out quality work, whether in school or at work. And the important lesson here is this: So long as I put forth my best effort to meet my own (overly high) expectations, I will nearly always exceed the expectations of others, and certainly meet them at the very least.
My research paper experience made this plain to me. Despite my fretting over the last few weeks, in the end I cranked out what I deem to be a solid piece of scholarly work, and I was actually proud of what I turned in to my professors. I’m still waiting on feedback before I revise it for submission to the Preyer scholars competition, but I feel good about the work that I’ve done, which is a pleasant feeling indeed.
This semester has also taught me that, while others may indeed share the passion and fervor for knowledge that fuels my scholastic endeavors, I do have an innate advantage which lies inside my skull. Although I often times curse my intelligence because I’m constantly over-thinking everything and from time to time it seems to impede my ability to reach a mindstate even resembling the ignorant bliss of the masses, in the end I am grateful to have a sharp, keen mind with which to understand the world around me.
I’m writing this not to toot my own horn, but because I know I’ll be entering a whole new world at Tulane Law School. I’ll be surrounded by other bright, driven young folks as opposed to the poorly educated slackers who comprised the bulk of my so-called “peers” at JSU. And I’m certain that in law school I’ll face intellectual challenges unlike any I’ve encountered thus far in my educational adventures. That being the case, this is simply an exercise in bolstering my assurance in myself; a way to store up my confidence for those inevitable times in the coming years when I’ll be questioning myself and my ability to succeed.
With the semester over and done I’ve returned to work full time, which sucks in a way I’ll not indulge myself in describing, because it does no good to dwell on such unpleasantries. All there is to do is suck it up, grin, and bear it for the next several weeks. The tricky part is going to be reserving enough mental energy to plan and effectuate The Move after working 9+ hour days, but I’ve no doubt that I’ll make it work, someway somehow.
In addition to planning The Move, I’ve got many projects underway, most of which are related in some way to relocating my household or remaking my life into that of a law student. Redesigning this blog and my web presence over at jkhammack.com are among these projects, so be on the lookout for changes and links and such, as well as more regular postings.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
and the paper progresses
 | 848 |
 | |
45  | |
 | |
| lab.drwicked.com | |
This application is awesome. It literally forces you to write. I highly recommend availing yourself of Dr. Wicked's assistance should you find yourself faced with a blank screen and a deadline.
The paper is coming along, slowly but surely. Those 848 words are still significantly short of the 1500 required for my first draft, but when combined with my notes and fleshed out -- as in, no longer written-on-the-spot but edited for clarity and style -- I think I'll be pretty close. I've still got three hours before I'm forcing myself to take a break and go laugh off some of this stress at this evening's performance by the Intellectual Bulimics' Comedy Troupe at Fenian's. During that time I intend to continue making progress, and I'll have several hours tomorrow after work for final touch-ups before I must submit the draft online in the evening...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
deadlines and decisions
I've given it much thought, and I've decided to go to Tulane Law School. Tomorrow I'll submit my decision and commitment deposit to the University, and commence with frantically planning The Move.
Meanwhile, April 15th looms ahead with a hefty tax bill to pay, and the first draft of my research paper for Women's History is due that day, too. Right now I'm taking a break from transcribing notes and thinking about how I shall compile the thoughts I've had and research I've done over the last several months into a coherent narrative. I take comfort in the fact that my submission for Wednesday is really and truly a first draft, and that I'll have two more weeks still to tweak it for a final grade. This also leaves me plenty of time to spend at the Archives in an effort to dig up some biographical info on my main cast of characters, who are still just plaintiffs and defendants at this point since all my primary source research thus far has taken place at the Law Library where little biographical info is available.
Honestly, though, I'm struggling to maintain momentum and muster motivation. The more I think about moving to New Orleans and going to law school, the more excited I become about the prospect, and the less I find myself concerned about my performance in these two grad school classes at JSU. I'm convinced that my future success lies along the legal tract, which leaves me without much care as to putting forth the effort to be a stellar grad school student in these last few weeks of the semester. That's not a productive attitude, however, so I'm reminding myself that this paper is not just for class requirements; I do, after all, intend to submit a polished version for possible presentation at the Preyer Panel at the American Society for Legal History 2009 Conference. So I'm working through the ennui, but struggling to do so.
And thoughts about The Move await in the wings all the while. I'm really not sure how we will accomplish it; I've never moved so far before! I don't know how to find a place sufficiently ahead of time but not so far ahead of time that we would have to pay 2 rents for 2 or 3 months - which we can't feasibly do! - in order to snag it up before some other student does. All the challenges aside, I'm eager and excited that we will make it work, somehow.
I also find myself preoccupied with anticipation of transitioning from grad student to law student. (Which will mean re-naming this blog!) I've been talking to my boss, who survived law school 20-some years ago, about what it's like to be a law school student, and from what she tells me I've got a rough row to hoe during the first year. And to make things more challenging, it will be nothing like the schooling I've grown accustomed to. We both know I'm up for the challenge, though, and I know I'll find it all immensely interesting, and so it is just one more aspect of this whole newfound-direction-for-my-life that I am eager to embrace. And one that easily distracts me from the tasks at hand.
For now, it's back to the research paper. Tomorrow I've set aside time for taxes and budgeting and other planning for The Move, but break time is over and so I shall end this idle screed.
Meanwhile, April 15th looms ahead with a hefty tax bill to pay, and the first draft of my research paper for Women's History is due that day, too. Right now I'm taking a break from transcribing notes and thinking about how I shall compile the thoughts I've had and research I've done over the last several months into a coherent narrative. I take comfort in the fact that my submission for Wednesday is really and truly a first draft, and that I'll have two more weeks still to tweak it for a final grade. This also leaves me plenty of time to spend at the Archives in an effort to dig up some biographical info on my main cast of characters, who are still just plaintiffs and defendants at this point since all my primary source research thus far has taken place at the Law Library where little biographical info is available.
Honestly, though, I'm struggling to maintain momentum and muster motivation. The more I think about moving to New Orleans and going to law school, the more excited I become about the prospect, and the less I find myself concerned about my performance in these two grad school classes at JSU. I'm convinced that my future success lies along the legal tract, which leaves me without much care as to putting forth the effort to be a stellar grad school student in these last few weeks of the semester. That's not a productive attitude, however, so I'm reminding myself that this paper is not just for class requirements; I do, after all, intend to submit a polished version for possible presentation at the Preyer Panel at the American Society for Legal History 2009 Conference. So I'm working through the ennui, but struggling to do so.
And thoughts about The Move await in the wings all the while. I'm really not sure how we will accomplish it; I've never moved so far before! I don't know how to find a place sufficiently ahead of time but not so far ahead of time that we would have to pay 2 rents for 2 or 3 months - which we can't feasibly do! - in order to snag it up before some other student does. All the challenges aside, I'm eager and excited that we will make it work, somehow.
I also find myself preoccupied with anticipation of transitioning from grad student to law student. (Which will mean re-naming this blog!) I've been talking to my boss, who survived law school 20-some years ago, about what it's like to be a law school student, and from what she tells me I've got a rough row to hoe during the first year. And to make things more challenging, it will be nothing like the schooling I've grown accustomed to. We both know I'm up for the challenge, though, and I know I'll find it all immensely interesting, and so it is just one more aspect of this whole newfound-direction-for-my-life that I am eager to embrace. And one that easily distracts me from the tasks at hand.
For now, it's back to the research paper. Tomorrow I've set aside time for taxes and budgeting and other planning for The Move, but break time is over and so I shall end this idle screed.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
careful considerations
I must submit a decision to Tulane Law School in ten days. Last week Hubby and I took a lovely trip to New Orleans, in part as a belated birthday celebration trip, but primarily so that I could visit the Tulane campus and meet with faculty members with whom I've been corresponding since the fall, when this Grad School Admissions Game began.
I was impressed with the campus, but moreso with the encouragement and kindness of the faculty. One professor in particular expressed her willingness to help me plan and embark upon a career as a legal scholar if I'm willing to work hard to get there. I certainly am willing to put forth the effort, which has me seriously considering attending Tulane, even though I've been rejected by the History Department and therefore cannot pursue both a J.D. and Ph.D. there.
My faculty meetings helped me to realize that both degrees aren't strictly necessary in order for me to make a happy life for myself. I'm confident that, with Tulane faculty as my allies, I can carve out a successful path forward from Tulane Law School and find a happy balance between the law and the academy, the two things I've demonstrated an aptitude and passion for. And New Orleans, as always, is irresistibly charming. Both Hubby and I would positively love to live there. It's relatively close to all things familiar and familial, much moreso than Albany, which is the only other school to offer me admission thus far. I still haven't heard from UC Riverside, but there, again, the distance from here seems insurmountable.
So I've much thinking and talking with Hubby to do, because I've only ten days to make my final decision known to Tulane.
Other than having this major, life-changing decision on the horizon, all is well. The vacation was much-needed and thoroughly enjoyable, even despite a low-grade fever that marred my enjoyment of the first day and which has since evolved into a sore throat and mass of yellow gunk inside my head. I'm on top of my school work at present, although the research paper is coming along more slowly than I would prefer, despite my diligent primary-source research the week of Spring Break. But I'll not fret about that as I have three weeks still to work towards completion of that project.
Tomorrow it's back to school-and-work, after a lovely weekend of studying and writing interspersed amongst much cooking and a little cleaning. Another month and the semester will be all but over, and with the semester winding to a close I shall strive to make more time for blogging...
I was impressed with the campus, but moreso with the encouragement and kindness of the faculty. One professor in particular expressed her willingness to help me plan and embark upon a career as a legal scholar if I'm willing to work hard to get there. I certainly am willing to put forth the effort, which has me seriously considering attending Tulane, even though I've been rejected by the History Department and therefore cannot pursue both a J.D. and Ph.D. there.
My faculty meetings helped me to realize that both degrees aren't strictly necessary in order for me to make a happy life for myself. I'm confident that, with Tulane faculty as my allies, I can carve out a successful path forward from Tulane Law School and find a happy balance between the law and the academy, the two things I've demonstrated an aptitude and passion for. And New Orleans, as always, is irresistibly charming. Both Hubby and I would positively love to live there. It's relatively close to all things familiar and familial, much moreso than Albany, which is the only other school to offer me admission thus far. I still haven't heard from UC Riverside, but there, again, the distance from here seems insurmountable.
So I've much thinking and talking with Hubby to do, because I've only ten days to make my final decision known to Tulane.
Other than having this major, life-changing decision on the horizon, all is well. The vacation was much-needed and thoroughly enjoyable, even despite a low-grade fever that marred my enjoyment of the first day and which has since evolved into a sore throat and mass of yellow gunk inside my head. I'm on top of my school work at present, although the research paper is coming along more slowly than I would prefer, despite my diligent primary-source research the week of Spring Break. But I'll not fret about that as I have three weeks still to work towards completion of that project.
Tomorrow it's back to school-and-work, after a lovely weekend of studying and writing interspersed amongst much cooking and a little cleaning. Another month and the semester will be all but over, and with the semester winding to a close I shall strive to make more time for blogging...
Sunday, March 8, 2009
of race and stratification
The fact that race is socially constructed does not negate the fact that systematically different patterns of outcomes are produced within a racially stratified society.-- Michael C. Dawson
from Black Visions
This observation seems particularly germane for this white-skinned HBCU alumnus...
And, as a side note, it would seem to apply equally as well to gender as a social construct.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
spring ahead
I can hardly believe that it's March already! But sure enough, mid-terms are upon me, the vibrant colors are spring are sprouting up all around, and warmer weather has arrived.
For whatever reason this semester has been more of a challenge for me than last. (I mostly blame the pol sci class.) 'Tis certainly a challenge I can meet, but it has required a substantial investment of my time and mental energy, leaving me little time for idle blogging, or cooking, or doing much of anything at all at my own pace. And I don't mean to complain, because I'm making much progress in my pursuit of knowledge. Although much of my progress has been intangible thus far, my mind is nevertheless steadily absorbing a more detailed, nuanced understanding of the world around me, which is always a good thing.
And truly, being super-busy is a welcome distraction from fretting about my future, because through all of this, the Grad-School-Admissions-Decision Waiting Game continues. I've been rejected by three of my chosen schools, albeit the three most selective. I've been accepted to Tulane Law School, but I've not yet received a response from the History Department to know fully what my options are. Nevertheless, this news has been of great comfort to my confidence, which had been mightily bruised by the slew of rejections.
So I continue to wait, cultivating the virtue of patience all the while, knowing not where I might fund myself this autumn, or what I might be doing...
Also in the way of encouraging developments: I'm in talks with my pol sci professor (who happens to be the chair of the department) about doing some assistantship work for him. I believe that I could provide some invaluable organizational assistance to such a busy academic as Professor Orey -- what with my 6+ years of experience keeping busy attorneys organized -- even while adding a sparkling new category to my curriculum vitae. As with much else, only time will tell what might come of this...
Meanwhile, after months of mulling around possible topics, I've reached the point of beginning a new research paper in earnest. (More on that later, in a new post.)
Something I've been telling myself lately is that I should endeavor to blog more; to use these pages as a utility to help me think complex concepts though, to catalog my many ideas and interests, and to help me expand my vocabulary. As Dr. Davis once told me, writing is a performance art, and for that reason blogging can do me naught but good as an aspiring writer.
But I won't fret too much about not having made the time lately to devote to blogging, for I can (and likely will) always aspire to do better. Overall I'm doing quite well with the balancing act of work, home, and school, and I simply must come to terms with my tendency to want to over-achieve. I must remind myself that, at the end of the day, my best will almost always be good enough.
For whatever reason this semester has been more of a challenge for me than last. (I mostly blame the pol sci class.) 'Tis certainly a challenge I can meet, but it has required a substantial investment of my time and mental energy, leaving me little time for idle blogging, or cooking, or doing much of anything at all at my own pace. And I don't mean to complain, because I'm making much progress in my pursuit of knowledge. Although much of my progress has been intangible thus far, my mind is nevertheless steadily absorbing a more detailed, nuanced understanding of the world around me, which is always a good thing.
And truly, being super-busy is a welcome distraction from fretting about my future, because through all of this, the Grad-School-Admissions-Decision Waiting Game continues. I've been rejected by three of my chosen schools, albeit the three most selective. I've been accepted to Tulane Law School, but I've not yet received a response from the History Department to know fully what my options are. Nevertheless, this news has been of great comfort to my confidence, which had been mightily bruised by the slew of rejections.
So I continue to wait, cultivating the virtue of patience all the while, knowing not where I might fund myself this autumn, or what I might be doing...
Also in the way of encouraging developments: I'm in talks with my pol sci professor (who happens to be the chair of the department) about doing some assistantship work for him. I believe that I could provide some invaluable organizational assistance to such a busy academic as Professor Orey -- what with my 6+ years of experience keeping busy attorneys organized -- even while adding a sparkling new category to my curriculum vitae. As with much else, only time will tell what might come of this...
Meanwhile, after months of mulling around possible topics, I've reached the point of beginning a new research paper in earnest. (More on that later, in a new post.)
Something I've been telling myself lately is that I should endeavor to blog more; to use these pages as a utility to help me think complex concepts though, to catalog my many ideas and interests, and to help me expand my vocabulary. As Dr. Davis once told me, writing is a performance art, and for that reason blogging can do me naught but good as an aspiring writer.
But I won't fret too much about not having made the time lately to devote to blogging, for I can (and likely will) always aspire to do better. Overall I'm doing quite well with the balancing act of work, home, and school, and I simply must come to terms with my tendency to want to over-achieve. I must remind myself that, at the end of the day, my best will almost always be good enough.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
of race, class, and sex
Black women are a prism through which the searing rays of race, class and sex are first focused, then refracted. The creative among us transform these rays into a spectrum of brilliant colors, a rainbow which illuminates the experience of all mankind.
-- Margaret B. Wilkerson
from A Shining Thread of Hope (Hine and Thompson, 1998)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
too many words
I wrote this paragraph and I don't want to delete it, but it does not belong in the essay I'm currently composing, so I figured I'd post it here...
The Europeans were by far the more technologically advanced society when they came into contact with the natives of Western Africa and the Americas, which put the Europeans at an advantage in obtaining and maintaining cultural dominance in the face of such severe culture shock as these groups encountered. That the Europeans were, by the seventeenth century, actively out to colonize the world speaks to their imperial ambitions. And this empire-building enterprise was literally fueled by the technological prowess of the Europeans. Those technological innovations, in turn, created unique socio-cultural institutions that were peculiar to Europe at the time of the convergence of the Old, New, and African worlds.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
why history?
Karl Marx noted that:
Marx's insight seemingly encapsulates the essence of the importance of studying history, and is certainly more eloquently stated than the plain fact of the matter: history matters to us all and inevitably influences the making of tomorrow's history.
Man makes his own history, but he does not make it out of the whole cloth; he does not make it out of conditions chosen by himself, but out of such as he finds close at hand. The tradition of all past generations weighs like an alp upon the brain of the living. At the very time when men appear engaged in revolutionizing things and themselves, in bringing about what never was before, at such very epochs of revolutionary crises do they anxiously conjure up into their service the spirits of the past, assume their names, their battle cries, their costumes to enact a new historic scene in such time-honored disguise and with such borrowed language.which seems quite apt. I've been thinking a lot lately about distinctions between disciplines and my motivation for choosing to pursue my studies in history when my interests rum the gamut of the humanities, from anthropology to sociology.
Marx's insight seemingly encapsulates the essence of the importance of studying history, and is certainly more eloquently stated than the plain fact of the matter: history matters to us all and inevitably influences the making of tomorrow's history.
Friday, January 9, 2009
undeniably feminist
For whatever reason, I began this blog with the intention of presenting myself in an androgynous way; to avail myself of the freedom offered by the web and experiment with my identity in the absence of gender constraints. While this remains an enticing possibility, I have determined that it must be set aside for a special project, one that is decidedly dedicated to investigating questions of gender and identity.
For the purposes of this blog, I now realize that I cannot stifle my femininity or my feminism; for better or for worse, gender has stamped its permanent mark upon my life experience and, consequently, my world view. If I am to be wholly myself on this blog and accurately transcribe my thoughts and experiences, I simply cannot skim over the fact of my gender and the ways that my life is shaped in this gendered world.
Thanks are owed to Robert Reich for helping me to come to this realization. And also to the cult of anti-feminism, exemplified by sites like this (and blogs like this and this), which I happened to stumble upon recently and which likewise inspired me to own up to my feminism and stand up in the blogosphere for human equality.
For the purposes of this blog, I now realize that I cannot stifle my femininity or my feminism; for better or for worse, gender has stamped its permanent mark upon my life experience and, consequently, my world view. If I am to be wholly myself on this blog and accurately transcribe my thoughts and experiences, I simply cannot skim over the fact of my gender and the ways that my life is shaped in this gendered world.
Thanks are owed to Robert Reich for helping me to come to this realization. And also to the cult of anti-feminism, exemplified by sites like this (and blogs like this and this), which I happened to stumble upon recently and which likewise inspired me to own up to my feminism and stand up in the blogosphere for human equality.
new semester angst
I've learned that I cannot take my chosen two political science classes as planned. Apparently, since I am enrolled through the history department, I must take at least one class there. And what with me only being able to take two classes at no cost, I must sacrifice one of the pol sci classes.
Alas, this will require serious consideration, as I had my heart set on them both...
I lean towards this class because it would expand my understanding of the ways the law interacts with societal minorities, but I'm dissuaded by the "emphasis on urban political systems" aspect. Partly, that's because I'm not sure what that indicates: is it a focus on municipal political system, or an investigation into the unique legal mechanisms utilized in urban areas? Perhaps I ought to e-mail the Professor...
This is the other class,and for some reason I just love the idea of a constitutional law class. I've also already talked to this Professor, and I like her. Then again, I could likely embark upon a course of independent readings and get as much out of it; surely she would be happy to guide me unofficially in such an endeavor.
And there I have it. After writing it through, I see the course of action that I should take in this regard. Yay for blogging!
The other consideration at hand is 'Which history class to take?' I've narrowed it down to three --
The only course I haven't already taken as an undergraduate is the Africa class. Generally I'm interested in Atlantic World studies, but more so in the slave trade era. And African diaspora and colonization studies are also quite interesting, but I'm not immediately drawn to the "since 1945" era. Then again, it is admittedly a time and place about which I am not very knowledgeable. And I will likely have to select a field off minor concentration for any of my Ph.D. programs, and I'm already well situated to do that with African and/or African-American studies, so I might be well served to take this class.
I have until next Thursday to make up my mind, so I'll be giving the matter all due consideration over the weekend.
Alas, this will require serious consideration, as I had my heart set on them both...
PS 532: Blacks and the American Political System An assessment of the position of Blacks in the political system of the United States, both historical and contemporary, with special attention to alternative political strategies for the present political epoch. Special emphasis will be placed on urban political systems.
I lean towards this class because it would expand my understanding of the ways the law interacts with societal minorities, but I'm dissuaded by the "emphasis on urban political systems" aspect. Partly, that's because I'm not sure what that indicates: is it a focus on municipal political system, or an investigation into the unique legal mechanisms utilized in urban areas? Perhaps I ought to e-mail the Professor...
PS 535: Constitutional Law and Separation of Powers An analysis of leading Supreme Court decisions dealing with the use of and curbs upon federal powers to enact economic and social legislation with special attention to urban issues. Resolution of conflicts engendered by the federal system and separation of powers also will be studied.
This is the other class,and for some reason I just love the idea of a constitutional law class. I've also already talked to this Professor, and I like her. Then again, I could likely embark upon a course of independent readings and get as much out of it; surely she would be happy to guide me unofficially in such an endeavor.
And there I have it. After writing it through, I see the course of action that I should take in this regard. Yay for blogging!
The other consideration at hand is 'Which history class to take?' I've narrowed it down to three --
HIST 502: Contemporary Africa A study of the emergence of Africa since 1945 with emphasis on the role of nations of the continent in both regional and world affairs.
HIST 521: History of Women in America An examination of the problems, challenges and experiences of American women from the colonial period to the 21st century.
HIST 546: Historical Research A course designed to assist students, especially those completing a thesis, in honing both their research and writing competencies.
The only course I haven't already taken as an undergraduate is the Africa class. Generally I'm interested in Atlantic World studies, but more so in the slave trade era. And African diaspora and colonization studies are also quite interesting, but I'm not immediately drawn to the "since 1945" era. Then again, it is admittedly a time and place about which I am not very knowledgeable. And I will likely have to select a field off minor concentration for any of my Ph.D. programs, and I'm already well situated to do that with African and/or African-American studies, so I might be well served to take this class.
I have until next Thursday to make up my mind, so I'll be giving the matter all due consideration over the weekend.
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