AUTHOR – Jahnavi S.
The author presents here five things that every first-year law student should know or the things I wished I knew when I was in my first-year of college. (It’s very obviously not going to be all dreamy and beautiful but in case you are lucky enough you wouldn’t have to wear uniform even to your college and in this case, I definitely wasn’t lucky)
1. TAKE BABY STEPS:
Everything might seem so amazing after watching your first ever mock moot court competition and getting to know about research, debate, model UN, college fest and all the Adrian rush along with it and all of this goes crashing after having your first mock moot court competition in college (at least that is what happened to me). Its okay to feel bad, and its okay and its okay to take a few steps backwards but it’s not okay to stop trying. Take baby steps every day. Learn something new every day, be consistent with what you do, and you will be shocked to see how far you have come.
2. YOU WON’T KNOW YOU ARE GOOD AT SOMETHING UNLESS YOU TRY IT OUT:
The doors of variety of opportunity will open in the first year of your college. It’s also normal that half the people are going to be absolutely clueless about what are they even doing in life (and that’s normal). Sometimes it takes time to get even know about the opportunities that exists in your college. Sometimes you do not ace at something when you do it for the very first time, that doesn’t mean you are not good at it, it just means that you might have to work harder than others and kick out procrastination so that you could do your best. Always remember that you are the only competition you have. Also, love whatever you do.
3. UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU ASK FOR IT THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS NO:
If you want to learn something from your seniors or professors you will have to make the first step. It is normal to be shy at first before approaching seniors but unless and until you ask for it you aren’t going to get any help. You might not get the response that you expected in the beginning, but you will most certainly find the seniors who will be ready to help and guide you. Reaching out for help is not a bad thing or something you should be shy about. This will help you in long run as your seniors with time will become your friends.
4. DAY 1 FOR YOUR VERY FIRST INTERNSHIP DOESN’T REALLY GO AS YOU PLANNED:
For a person who had zero legal background and no connections with advocates or law firms it would was an actual task to find my very first internship. (For me to land into my very first internship I had to ask a friend of mine who was doing internship under an advocate, who in turn asked his friend and his friend asked his senior advocate about the internship who thereafter asked her fellow advocate about internship, they did end up being such amazing advocates. I am so grateful for them. This journey of finding my first internship wasn’t a cup of tea for me, if it was for you then, you should consider yourself very lucky). After landing at your very first internship the first day isn’t usually very easy. In the beginning you might not know what’s happening, waiting in ques for getting your High court pass, losing your way while finding the court room and so much more. The one thing that is certain is that it definitely becomes worth the efforts and the time you put in.
5. BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND FUN:
This is something that applies for all the college students irrespective of their course and the year of study, there should be a balance between work and fun. Doing internships, moots, research paper, assignments, presentations, and viva could take all the time away. If you do not have some fun, go for a first day first show movie, bunk classes or go to some college fests then you are missing out on a big part of your college life. There are chances once you start bunking classes you end up trapped in a spiral of bunking classes, but eventually you will learn how to manage it. If not soon, at least after you pay your first con donation for lack of attendance. This is where balance between the studies and the fun comes.
I would like to end by saying that the first year of your college is going to be the groundwork you do for your future. So, do not miss out on anything, make amazing memories with the amazing people you meet, accept the things you get and try harder for the things you don’t and most importantly do not forger to have fun with your friends.
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