NICHOLAS VAN DUYVENBODE
<Opinions Editor>
As the last issue of this year, the articles in here are largely reflective of a saying goodbye to Osgoode and of course, looking back on the last 3 years. I, myself, will also be saying goodbye to Osgoode, but like many I am also saying goodbye to Toronto.
I’ve had an overall great experience at Osgoode. The school work did challenge me to rise to a higher level of competence and dedication (at times, sometimes I also just gave up and walked in the opposite direction), and being able to spend your time discussing ideas is always time well spent (albeit discussing ideas for less than 17k would be nice!). In this regard, while times have been good, I think I’ll manage to say goodbye to Osgoode and be quite ready to open up the next chapter of my life.
Not only do I feel quite ready to move on, it feels good to leave Osgoode now because it does seem like there is a renaissance, for lack of better words, occurring at Osgoode. A large part of this is the new building, which has inspired a community to start re-emerging. There’s also financial investment and new hiring of profs which are driving rejuvenation in the halls of Osgoode. I’ve given my fair share of articles that critique Osgoode’s administration, but to be fair, they do an overall great job at Osgoode, and they should get their credit where it’s due.
Undoubtedly, our year leaving has a very different feeling to those from last year’s class (2011), who would probably say that their experience at Osgoode, including a 6 month strike and then 2 years of Osgoode under construction has left them with a decidedly different image of Osgoode Hall Law School.
Oh, and of course, the miraculous ending of the bus to York, slated for 2015, my that will truly re-start Osgoode’s golden years! At Dean’s Formal this year I was thinking during the slideshow, to accurately have reflected the last 3 years and how we’ve really come together as friends, photo after photo of TTC trips off campus would have been a true reflection of our law school experience. So much time wasted/enjoyed. So much anger at the TTC.
As alluded to above, what will be incredibly sad for myself, and the many that are also leaving Toronto, is leaving behind a great city (there’s also many other great cities in Canada!), as well as great friends that I have made in and outside of law school while here.
My hope is that we still stay in contact long after law school has finished, even if we live far across the country. I think we will and there’s a two major reasons for this. First, whether we like it or not, law school is a battle ground for admittance and this ensures some of the most high functioning (read in hardworking and hard playing people) that really endear to being fantastic friends. While there’s been a fair share of crazy under the pressure of law school, in my humble opinion, there’s a much larger share of awesomeness that I’ve seen over 3 years. While we will be busy professionals over the years to come, I truly hope we make time to see each other once and a while.
My second reason is a little bit more utilitarian. We’ve established great and trustworthy relationships that we should leverage when out in the workforce. We’re undoubtedly going to come across areas of law with clients that we are less familiar with and with a professional network that we do have in the age of active social networking, while still ensuring client-solicitor privilege, there’s still no reason that we should not work to aggregate our skills and expertise on a regular basis. The only thing that can stop us is out own self-regard as being too good to seek out advice from fellow colleagues.
So, as I conclude my 3 years at Osgoode, I am planning on doing everything that I still haven’t been able to do over the last 3 years. Up the CN tower, you betchya, Raptors game, for sure, having a few more beers on patios with the friends I’ve made at Osgoode, of course.
I bid adieu to my law school experience, the Osgoode building, and of course the Obiter Dicta; you have been an excellent friend in 3rd year, with thought provoking, entertaining, and occasionally controversial content. Thank you.