360 Degrees

So that's it. First year is over. It's still kind of hard to believe that the uncertainty that I have lived under for the past two years is over. A year of uncertainty of whether or not I would actually get into law school was followed by a year of uncertainty of if I belonged at American University. I have the utmost respect for my classmates. Although I never wavered in my belief that I belonged at WCL and that it was the right palce for me, I have wondered about my internal drive and ability to follow through and do this whole law school thing right. I think I am. It is awfully strange knowing that when I return to Washington for school, it won't be on a week's notice. I'll know what's going on. I won't be the slightest bit intimidated by what I need to accomplish from here on out. I have a year of law school under my belt. Although it's not quite an entire third of school, there's plenty of time to make it up.

Celebration with the evening crew was at Local 16 last Friday night and it was awesome. We all had so much energy to let out. It was such a nice release. To do it and be there with so many people who have just experienced the same painful year that I have was great. I feel so close to everyone in my section. It's nice to know that we'll still be together for two classes next year.

Heading to Cleveland was a good place to go. It was nice to get out of town; I didn't feel like I needed to "escape" D.C. as quickly as possible or anything, but it was nice to have the opporunity to leave and not worry about having assignments looming when I return. Jacobs Field is beautiful; easily the nicest ballpark I have been to yet, although I would like to see a baseball game at Dodger Stadium (I saw DMB perform there 5/22/01. A beautiful stadium but it needs to be seen in its proper use to judge it impartially). Cedar Point was crazy. Riding roller coasters (particularly the Millennium Force) was the perfect outlet for the remainder of my pent-up stress and a great way to officailly mark the end of my first vacation in a long time. The Millennium Force, the park's biggest and baddest amusement park, was the last ride Alli and I went on before we left. a 310-foot drop, going 93 miles per hour at an 80-degree angle is a bit exhilirating and it provided a moment of zen for me. I got off that ride feeling less stress than I have in almost three years. As dumb as it sounds, I feel like a different person.

An interesting observation at the amusement park: it was great being able to go on a Monday afternoon during the school year. We only had to wait on line for the last ride. However, there were a ton of high school kids there who apparently can afford the absensces or just don't care (the nerd that I was in high school would have never ditched school to go to an amusement park! Just to another school. Ask Theresa). Anyway, many wore their high school hooded sweatshirts emblazoned with their names on the back. Some had their first names, some their last names, others nicknames; some even had uniform numbers. Note to people who wear high school sports garb to public places not affiliated with their high schools: I'm sure these are great self importance broadcasters at your school or in your community, but at a large amusement park, no one cares that you're on the football team or a cheerleader. Furthermore, I don't give a shit what your name is. It's great that you have such pride in your school, but leave the personalized stuff home.

So now I'm back in AZ. It took a little longer than I expected (about seven hours more, to be exact) to get home, but I'm here. Yesterday was my first full day back and coincidentally also the first day of the year when the temperature reached triple digits. It really is good to be home.