and so it begins

Law school orientation began today at 9:00 am. My day? Actually began at 2:00 am, thanks to jitter-induced insomnia. I awoke to discover Ted Kennedy’s lengthy obit in the New York Times and shed a few silent tears. I then read a depressing and ill-timed article about the increasingly dismal prospects for securing law-firm employment. Rattled anew,  as well as resolved that networking must be my ticket to landing a job, I promptly wrote two letters requesting informational interviews with attorney acquaintances. To shake off my 5-am funk, I went for a run and watched the sun come up.

After breakfast and a 15-minute catnap, I biked down to campus (about 3.5 miles–I took the long way to avoid hills but got a bit sweaty anyway). Within the first hour, I saw several familiar faces, which put me at ease. Not so easy: feeling my age. Where are the gray hairs? Everyone looked so young, and with only one exception all the 30+ people I met were childless. Apparently there are other 1Ls with kids, but I didn’t meet them or even develop a hunch as to who they might be.

My first assignments turned up on rather out-of-the-way bulletin board on the fifth floor. Fortunately I now have most of my books, economically purchased online.  I am as ready as I’ll ever be. Day 2 here I come. Hopefully on a few more hours of sleep!