MICHAEL CAPITANO
<Staff Writer>
Law school horror stories surely have made their way to your ears by now: important resources being hidden or sabotaged; students playing mind games or spewing misinformation to gain an upper hand; the niceties and convivial environment are only a façade; the endless hours of readings and assignments that will make you feel like you don’t belong and that you’ll never succeed; even if you pass, you’ll never get the job you want.
‘It can’t be that bad, can it?’ is what you all convinced yourselves. Despite the news articles detailing the grim predictions of the future of lawyering, or the YouTube videos that repeatedly warn prospective law students away from this ancient field of study, you’ve made your way here, to Osgoode Hall Law School, ready to begin a new chapter in your lives.
I’m not going to lie to you. 1L is tough. Like anything new and challenging, it takes continual adjustment and effort. You’ll get so swept up in the commotion that before you know it the year will be over, landmarked by celebratory highs and mental and emotional lows. You’ll meet new people, learn new skills and knowledge, feel lost, feel hopeful, grow tired, sweat, laugh.
In mid-November of last year, as exam stress was on the rise, I wrote an article for the Obiter Dicta, “The Existential Crisis that is Law School”, that attempted to offer reflective advice on how to find oneself in the midst of all the pressures that can often make us feel like we’re being pulled apart and pulled away from what makes us who we are. It was more of a stop-and-think piece, perhaps too light on practicality. But after finishing 1L and having a good summer to unwind, the best practical guidance I can give you as you navigate your way through your first year is: do not neglect your community.
So many great things are always going on at Osgoode Hall and York University with so many great, like-minded people taking part. Exploring something new and interesting through organized teamwork is the best way to learn. Make something of your community during your time here and you’ll discover more about yourself than you’ve ever known. As it has been said countless times before: experiment, contribute, create. Organize classroom activities and play games. Think of creative ways to support your causes. If you can’t find what you’re looking for because it doesn’t exist, make it. Start a new club, fundraise, network to seek out opportunities. Do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable; seek out ways to make Osgoode your new home.
With an arts and sciences degree behind me, I was ready to delve into the new opportunities that awaited me. I attended Clubs Fair (don’t forget to show up!) and signed up for every club that interested me. After sorting through countless club advertisements and calls for executive positions, I ultimately decided on two clubs I could actively take part in. On the cultural side, I helped found OLICA, the Osgoode Law Italian Canadian Association, where we hosted fun events such as an Italian dinner night and an Italian movie night. With an interest in sustainable and socially responsible business practices, I joined the executive of OSCG, the Osgoode Society for Corporate Governance. Among other things, I learned a lot about corporate governance practices, helped organize and attend several interesting talks and lectures, and contributed to the establishment of internship opportunities.
I had no idea I would be engaged in such awesome new activities with new friends prior to law school. I was nervous, unsure of myself, worried that I didn’t fit the mould of a typical law student. I soon realized there isn’t one. This year, I’m enthusiastic on taking on more responsibility and putting my all behind the clubs in which I’m invested. Whatever you decide to do, big or small, do it with excitement and eagerness. Another truism: you get out of something what you give into it. Law school is no different.
Time management is as important as ever, so spend your time wisely and keep up with your hobbies. Committing yourself to extracurricular activities adds much needed structure to your hectic schedule. Before coursework began to get heavy, I thought that I would have time for everything. As time became more precious, less important activities fell by the wayside. But I soon found out that there were certain things I didn’t want to sacrifice. While I couldn’t read much besides cases, writing emerged as something necessary for peace of mind. I would take a brief stroll across campus to the Second Cup at York Lanes, order an Americano and let my creative energy flow. It really helped me keep calm and gave me control over my day as things got busy.
Unite your passions. Just because you’re now in law school doesn’t mean everything you’ve done before is insignificant. It’s one of the reasons why Osgoode accepted you as its student and why you chose Osgoode as your law school. Take what you know and build upon it. Listen to your heart. Seek out opportunities that allow you to maintain your old interests but in the context of the law. For me, I’ve decided to start OSLAC, the Osgoode Society for Law, Art and Culture, so I could do something productive with writing, while exploring issues related to law and society—and providing a new avenue of exploration within the Osgoode community. All it takes is a little imagination and a willingness to grow. But don’t expect to be able to do everything at once. Pace yourself and open up, since you never know what the universe has in store.
So what is the easiest way to become an active member in your new community? Make friends you can trust. I cannot stress that enough. They will be your lifeline and fall-back when you get into a tough spot. Remember though that you’re moving in a tit for tat world. Be kind and expect kindness back; reply to grumpiness with a smile, but don’t waste time on people who are only looking to use you for a cheap advantage. Simply seek that awesome place for each of you waiting to be discovered.
But enough with the advice you’ve heard in some way or another all before and the shameless plugs on my part. I’m going to leave you with an anecdote about someone very special to me that I met at law school. She didn’t attend every event during orientation, but made the most of the ones she did. In the first weeks of school, she carried around candy with her to make friends. She kindly invited me to a study group; we ended up studying all year together. As she got more comfortable with our section, she planned a prank for Halloween on one of our professors. That led to her organizing class fundraisers and activities for causes she supports. She did what she could to make Osgoode a place to call home.
I could go on, but the simple message is this: be genuine; don’t forget be yourself; find yourself through your community. Because without community, all those hard moments you’re bound to face will trick you into thinking you’re alone.