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<\/a><\/p>\nI am very excited for you (maybe even slightly jealous) as you begin this journey and are looking forward to the next three years. Here I am, an incoming 3L, about to embark on an exchange for the first semester (something you should all do!), thinking about the limited time I have left as a student at UBC. Time truly does fly. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I cannot wait to never have to study for exams again and make another CAN, but law school isn\u2019t all studying and classes. There actually are a lot of fun and games involved. I would say that 49%* of your law school success will depend on your ability to keep a healthy work\/play balance. It is entirely possible to have a social life every week and still get great grades. It doesn\u2019t have to be law school all the time. In fact, it shouldn\u2019t be. What will work for you will be different than what worked for me, but I\u2019ll give you my tips anyway:<\/p>\n
Get involved:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Law Games 2015: We didn’t win any sports but we certainly looked good!<\/p><\/div>\n You have already read some posts on ways to get involved through different clubs and Law Games (come to this \u2013 ESPECIALLY<\/em> if you are athletically inclined), but there are many other avenues to making Allard Hall your home. Bonus: these require zero commitment and lots of free food and libations. Last year, I was the LSS, as it was then, Vice President Student Affairs and had the privilege of planning all the Friday Socials (firm sponsored mingling events on, who-woulda-thunk-it, Fridays) and other LSS run events like the infamous Boat Cruise (tickets ALWAYS sell out so get them early!), Movember, Semi-Formal, and the Trike Race (I\u2019m going for a three-peat this year). I cannot encourage you enough to attend these events. You will feel at times throughout the year that you don\u2019t have enough time \u2013 like you just need to get back home or to the library to hit the books again. That feeling is a complete lie. Don\u2019t give in. Fight the urge. Give yourself a very well deserved break, even if only for an hour. The books will always be there when you\u2019re done having some laughs and making some memories.<\/p>\n Take care of yourself:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n You are going to hear this over and over again, but make sure to stay healthy!<\/p>\n Get away from the books (and maybe even Allardites):<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n \u2026But not for too long:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n We’re so eager to meet you we already made you a drink!<\/p><\/div>\n Beyond just getting involved, hang out socially with your classmates. These are the people that understand exactly<\/em> what you\u2019re going through and will understand what you mean when you ask about whether there was consideration or what the mens rea<\/em> is. Like Jamie said in a prior post, these people are going to be your rock for getting through the slog of cases and exams coming your way. They will also be your future colleagues and professional network. Get to know them. Also, utilize your upper years! We\u2019re all more than happy to give you advice on certain professors\u2019 styles or hand down our CANs \u2013 we\u2019re also more than happy to grab a coffee or a beer (or a gin and tonic). ALSO, hang out with the professors. Some of them come out to the Friday Socials and various other events. Some will invite your class over for dinner or go for drinks with a group of you. We have some great faculty \u2013 get to know them.<\/p>\n Take it one step at a time:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t forget to have fun!<\/p><\/div>\n The hardest thing about work\/play balance is constantly thinking about your entire to-do list from now until the end of next April (or even until you land a job next, next October). Take it all once step at a time! You will worry yourself sick for things you cannot, and do not need to, control at this very moment. For example, right now, all you need to think about is clearing your schedule for Orientation Week and having fun! If you\u2019re a calendar kind of person (you should become one if you\u2019re not already), fill out all the things you need to do with deadlines, and just think about your day one at a time. Don\u2019t think about April exams when you haven\u2019t even gotten your first LRW assignment. Don\u2019t think about OCIs (blah) when you\u2019re trying to study for your FAIL-SAFE December exams. Take it one day, one week, at a time. You will thank yourself for not freaking yourself out.<\/p>\n Look at all the fun we’re having!<\/p><\/div>\n The last piece of advice I want to leave with you is to do what works for you (except actually go get involved and go to events). These are just some ideas of things that I have done for the past two years to be successful at the whole work\/play balance phenomenon. No one needs to tell you twice to work hard, but HAVE FUN! Don\u2019t leave law school thinking it was the worst three years of your life because it certainly should not be that.<\/p>\n I am looking forward to meeting you during Orientation week! Make the most of your summer and don\u2019t try to pre-read for classes or whatever silly thought you might have about that\u2026<\/p>\n -Rosalyn<\/p>\n *Disclaimer: there is no scientific evidence to back this claim up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 0Ls \u2013 Welcome to Allard Hall! I am very excited for you (maybe even slightly jealous) as you begin this journey and are looking forward to the next three years. Here I am, an incoming 3L, about to embark on … Continue reading <\/a>\n
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