I'm sitting on my couch flipping between SYTYCD and Project Runway wondering why I'm not more concerned about the Bar (and also why that Suede guy keeps talking about himself in the 3rd person - stop that!). I don't know if it's because I don't really believe it's 6 days away or because I didn't attend the barbri class and don't interact with anyone taking the exam, but I just can't get worked up about it.
I started today with the best of intentions- I was up and dressed in my work clothes (oh yes, the khaki colored linen pants, but jazzed up with very cute red heels) by 8:30. But then I played with Landon until his morning nap, and then I thought I could work at home for a little bit, but just ended up procrastinating via the internet. Then I realized JP was taking a nap so I set out to bother him. Finally at 11:30, after Landon woke up from his nap, I headed to the office. I turned to commercial paper with a fresh notepad and new purple pen (a trip to the supply closet was my reward for getting a 92% on the contracts question set I did yesterday- those official released questions are SO MUCH easier than the crazy barbri created ones), but quickly realized there was no way I could learn it in one day. I tried to read the barbri outline, then tried CMR, but just couldn't get my head around who has presentment warranties and who has transfer warranties and who exactly is a holder in due course and why are there like 15 requirements for negotiability and why does it not matter that a drawer's name is forged but it does when the payee's name is forged?? So I did some mental calculations and realized Commercial Paper will only be 3% of my grade. I think this may be the topic I just throw - although I haven't gotten to Oil and Gas yet and from what I hear that cannot be mastered in one day and this whole "it's only 3% of my grade" rationalization only works if I use it sparingly. I'm doing Oil and Gas tomorrow, so if it's as bad as I hear, I may throw it and go back to Commercial Paper.
So right now I'm mainly concerned with why the above sentences aren't freaking me out. Can one day per topic possibly be enough? I'm not going to have time to go back over the MBE stuff I studied first, but I did a contracts set yesterday without looking at it since early July and only missed 3 of 36. But that could have been a fluke. I'm afraid to do other topics in case they shatter my potentially misplaced confidence. Also, I wish Texas posted actual student essay answers- the Examiners' comments are helpful, but they just talk about what people missed, not what is "enough" to be a decent answer (surely they know we're all shooting for mediocrity here). The barbri model answers are pretty detailed, but I'm hitting about 75% of the issues they mention, is that enough? Although, that's when I practice them right after reviewing the topic all day, I'm not sure how I'll do if I try a topic from a few days prior (I really should, I know, but I'm thinking confidence may be one of the few things I have going for me right now and I don't want to hurt it). I just tried to recall the equation for claims for economic contribution in community property and drew a blank - not a good sign.
I spoke with our attorney employment head while stealing a few more of their M&M's and she said that while no one in the Austin office has ever failed the Bar, it's happened in other offices and it's no big deal, you just take it again February. So it's good to know that even if I'm totally embarrassed and depressed, I will at least be able to continue paying our mortgage.
So I'll continue on my little path to Tuesday. There's other distracting things going on, but I think they have to wait to be blogged about. Landon's molars continue to be big bullies - it took him over an hour to fall asleep last night and whenever I went in to check on him he was laying flat on his mattress in a puddle of tears, both hands stuffed in his mouth- breaks your heart and makes the priority rules in Secured Transactions seem terribly unimportant. And bless anyone who is still reading this- it seems like all I talk about anymore is this stupid exam and Landon's teeth (which are also stupid). After last Fall I will never fail to appreciate the beauty of boring, but it doesn't exactly make for riveting reading!
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So close to the end. You will be fine. Poor baby Landon. Baby Motrin works a million times better for Bear than Tylenol but he is also fighting some ugly molars right now too. When in doubt, let the poor guy have a popsicle.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I totally gave up on trying to figure out Commercial Paper. The only thing I learned was what makes a Holder in Due Course and it wasn't even covered on my exam.
ReplyDeleteI don't think O&G is that bad, but I took the class in my last semester of law school. There are just a few rules and definitions to memorize and you are golden. I was so relieved to see the O&G question on my bar because at least I knew what the hell they were looking for.
You will do just fine. Remember that you aren't trying for an A, you're trying for a D! Seriously - you will have no trouble passing this exam. Part of you already knows this, which is why you're taking quality "me" time with your darling family. :)
ReplyDeleteAgain, I think you're doing this just right -- studying an appropriate amount, and NOT studying an appropriate amount. I'm so glad that you're not freaked out. You're going to do fine. Just keep it up, slow and steady wins the race!
ReplyDeleteI think I am experiencing the same bizarre kind of denial over a completely different subject. I should be nervous about the baby coming, but I'm not. I feel like taking care of a newborn will be easy. You just feed him, change his diaper, and let him sleep a lot. But I *know* that they are really hard, that they cry a lot, that I will get no sleep, that I will want to tear my hair out. Somehow, though, I just don't believe it.
ReplyDeleteI said the same thing to Citations, which is that at this point you should focus on the MBE subjects that you do well in to get as many additional points right as possible. For the essays remembering the big picture and having at least a few things to spew onto the page is honestly good enough, which is all that you're trying for. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets? They saved our life when my kids were teething. They are available at drugstores or online. The bottle lasts forever and nothing else ever worked for my son. I have four kids and know how trying it is to have an unhappy baby. (I am Citations sister in law by the way!)
ReplyDeleteI HATE that SYTYCD and PR are on at the same time. WHO'S GREAT IDEA WAS THAT?
ReplyDeleteI second the hyland's teething tablets. Scary the first time you give them, but they work WONDERFULLY.
You're going to do great next week! You'll see!
I think I'd pick commercial paper!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll be fine; we all will. I'm glad to hear the real MBE questions are so much better.
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, do you know where any sample student answers of essay questions might be found?
My husband did not study for the bar at all (I promise you that when I say "at all" I'm not exaggerating). He didn't take any classes either and he passed on the first try. Just have faith in yourself and you'll do just fine! (and remember, you only have to pass, your score does not matter!) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI second your annoyance with talking in 3rd person. Even though I think it can be cute sometimes- not when it is done repeatedly and in such a ridiculously deliberate manner. But more importantly- good luck with studying for the bar! Sometimes distractions are essential for studying. ;)
ReplyDelete