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.