Goal Setting in Law School

I thought it would be helpful to post some of my goals for the new year and chronicle my voyage towards finding a legal job.  I am sure that many of my readers are wondering how they will find a legal job themselves.  Finding a law job is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either.  After I get home from the island I am visiting I will start my job hunt in full force.

Here are the steps I plan on taking to make sure that this next semester goes by smoothly.

-Visit the career services office.

My school's career services office says that we should make an appointment once per semester.  I often wonder if many of those who did not get so lucky in their job searches followed this sage advice.   Visiting the career services office at my school right away in the semester will help me.

-Get some work experience.

My school has also been adamant in having us work as much as possible during law school.  A clinic is something that I took advantage of last semester.  Before that I spent some time in other legal jobs.  I think that if you want to get a job in today's economic climate, you are going to need to at least have some experience. 

I plan on working this next semester so I can gain some experience and bring home a little money on the side.  Getting some job experience can't hurt me any.

-Pay attention to the learning.

I want to get good grades this semester.  I am aiming to make the Dean's list.  That's sometimes hard in law school, but it should not be impossible.  Instead of focusing on some of the negative blogs, I am going to focus on learning as much as I can.  Not missing too many classes, taking good notes, and always reading the material will help me reel in those As.  Taking classes that translate into a wide variety of positions will help me greatly.

-Getting ready to decimate the Bar exam.

I must be ready for the bar.  After all, that's why I am going to law school.  I am readying myself to take the bar.  I am not sure if I will self study (which I think I will do at this point) or pay for some expensive bar prep course.  The way I see it, I can self study somewhere exotic or pay for a bar course and stay home all day long.  Would I rather study in my apartment or on a Thai beach?  I must remain committed to studying though, no matter where it is.  I want to pass the NY and California bar (I will probably be moving from New York around the same time the bar results roll in, as my wife is thinking about graduate school in San Francisco. (yes, I've been married 11, almost 12 years (in an amazing relationship, may I add, she has always thought the scambloggers were crazy and put up with my running this blog for a long time) -- sorry to burst the bubble on that one.  The engagement stuff was just for fun -- in fact, a lot of the stuff on this blog has been fictionalized.  Also, I'm not nearly as young as people think.

Well, speaking of my wife, I should help her pack.  We're getting ready to spend a couple of weeks in the tropics and we are both really looking forward to escaping the cold and adding another place visited to our life story.  Thanks for reading everyone.

Signed,

The World Traveling Law Student [WTLS] (yes, it was me all along.  Thanks for having me on your blog Nando :) It was a pleasure)

You'll catch more flies with honey...

It has been said that you will catch more flies with honey (than by being a jerk).  I noticed a few people had left comments for me in the night.  Yesterday, one person thought I was a guy named "Mr. Infinity".  It does not matter what people think of me.  Especially negative nellies like the scambloggers.   They are trying hard to get me to stay in their little "cult" but I am not going to do that.  They want me to focus on them and their twisted little fantasy world.  I am not going to do that.  If anything, they are only proving to me that I made the right choice by not being a part of that.  Anyway, I deleted all of today's comments without reading them and made it so that this blog will no longer be accepting comments.  I really don't want to have anything to do with these people anymore.  They honestly sadden me.  They are so wretched and they are very disturbed people that need to do something with their lives.  I hate to say that I am glad they failed, but the truth is, these people do not deserve success.  They are crybaby whiners and they are meeting a fitting end. 

With that being said, I hope that they can change.  Perhaps if they would pick up a Bible and see all that which God has given them, then they could understand that there is much more to life than complaining about lack of money or doing poorly in law school.  They are so blessed that they live in the U.S.A., the land of opportunity.  Where one can start a business and choose to do what they want with their lives.  Yet, they complain about it.  Maybe they would rather live in North Korea, where one has to pay if they are out of work.  Of course, that's too abstract for little babies who have never left mama's bosom.

Imagine going to work every day and not getting paid. Then, one day, you're told there's no work to do — so you must pay the company for the privilege of not working.

This is the daily reality facing Mrs. Kim, a petite 52-year-old North Korean. Her husband's job in a state-run steel factory requires him to build roads. She can't remember the last time he received a monthly salary. When there are no roads to build, he has to pay his company around 20 times his paltry monthly salary, she says.

"He had to pay not to work for about six months of last year," Mrs. Kim told NPR, sighing. "You have to pay, even if you can't afford to eat. It's mandatory."

So she is the one who must keep the family alive, as her husband wrestles with this state-sanctioned extortion.

Welcome to the Orwellian world of work in North Korea. In this reclusive country, profound social change is happening beyond the view of the outside world. The demands of politics have dramatically redrawn gender roles, forcing women to become the breadwinners. Continue Reading...

I have once been told that we become like those who we hang out with.  My first piece of advice for people would be to surround yourself by loving people.  People who treat others with a kind heart.  Surround yourself by people who are positive and don't say hurtful things.  I can't believe that I actually fell for the lies of these stupid scamblogs!  It's one of the most shameful events of my life.  I have realized, learned the hard way, if you will, that hanging out with people who are negative will only bring you down to their level and their way of thinking.  I want to rise above that!  I am so much better than that.  So much better.

I used to hear them say "you are not a special little snowflake."  I used to think of myself as a special little snowflake.  Afterall, I did some very special things with my life.  Then I was told by these people that I was not a special little snowflake.  But lately I have realized that I am so different from these people.  My ways of thinking are different.  My past is different.  My life has been far different.  I am a special little snowflake.  And If I want a law job, I will find a law job!  And you can too! 

Anyway, I have disabled comments from these people and will no longer let them affect my life.  In a couple of days I will be in the tropics, basking in the sun, enjoying my life before school starts.  I will be taking a break from all this madness.  It is just further proof to me that life can be great if you are willing to make it great.  I love the life that has been given to me.  I am very blessed.  An amazing woman, the opportunity to travel, the chance to go to an amazing law school, the chance to live in a world class city, to know beyond a doubt that I can do something great with my life.  Perhaps it is because I don't drink alcohol or eat meat (I'm a vegan) or constantly dwell in negativity, but I will say I feel great about my life.  I know I'm doing a lot right in my life, and these other people are proof of it.

Moving on... (the straw that broke the camel's back)

First, I would like to say that I like to think of my blog as a place to express my ideas.  I understand that people disagree with them, and that is fine.  However, using profanity and calling people hurtful names is going to do nothing to get you more liked or respected in life.  That is also true in regards to this blog.  At the same time, I have gotten out what I am going to say about the scamblog movement (which I am not a part of) and move on towards other parts of my life.  I believe that many people enjoyed reading about my life and my studies and that is why people kept coming back.  I don't want this blog to be another scam blog.  In fact, I don't want to even acknowledge that such a "scam" exists or doesn't exist.  The word scam and law school don't go together at all.  And with that it's time to move on.

I am enjoying my time off for Christmas break.  I have spent a lot of time with the wife to be and have also enjoyed getting some time to just sit back and relax.  I am looking forward to school to start up and seeing what the future holds.  With that being said, I am somewhat scared of the future.  The truth is, I don't know where I will end up working or how I am going to get by after school is over.  That has been a fear of mine for a while.  With that being said, all I can do right now is remain confident that things will work out for me.  I am sure that they will.  I have been in worse situations and life has always turned out better than expected.

I have been working on editing a book which I will be finishing up tomorrow.  I will be publishing it myself and look forward to making a little bit of side money on it.  I also want to spend some time reading some psychology before school starts up.  Next semester I have some interesting classes which I think will transfer well into outside non-legal jobs.  One of these is real estate.  I know that the real estate market is huge in New York, and I have made friends with the broker that helped me get this place.  I am sure that he could help me get a job as a broker if I was interested.  I am not sure if I want to take that route right now, but it is an option.  Like I said before, life is full of options if you are open minded.

I am also going to look for a part time job during law school in which I can earn some money.  I am thinking about studying for the bar myself in Central America or in India.  I will sublet my apartment out and enjoy some time traveling before going to work.  I may actually be able to make some money by doing that.  My plan as of now is to rent a house for about $300-400 a month and rent this place out for about $1300-1500 furnished for the summer.  During my second year of law school I made a good amount of money by renting a spare bedroom in my last apartment on Roomorama.com.  I paid $1300 for my studio apartment, but after renting the bedroom out to tourists, I sometimes paid close to $400 (it was fun, like a bed and breakfast set up).  I later got a roommate who paid $775, which allowed me to live quite cheaply.  I furnished the room and the people who stayed there really enjoyed it.  That just goes to show that there are ways to make money on the side for those who are industrious enough to try.

I enjoyed my Christmas a lot.  It was nicer than years past when I worked in a retail like environment and everyone was obsessed with buying gifts and not enjoying the reason for the holiday.  I hated that.  I would have liked to rent a cabin somewhere in nature for Christmas, but that will have to wait until I earn a bit of money.  There are some good deals to be had at some of the state parks.  Right now I am just trying to save up for summer and the possibility of moving to the West coast after law school. 

I must say I was disheartened that so many people read my blog on Christmas.  I feel that Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones and not to visit scamblogs or to lament about life.  I think that's what really set me off about not wanting to be a part of the "movement" any longer.  I realize that my previous posts were pretty strong, but I came to the end of my rope with those things.  It's like the straw that breaks the camel's back.  I realized I could only take so much of the negativity.  I am not cut out for that kind of thing.

So, here on out the message is going to be about my life, my experiences with law school, and some of the lessons I have learned along the way.  I might even post some of the ways I have found to earn money and be frugal in life.  I hope that people continue to read and get something out of this blog. 

Why I do not want to be associated with the scamblogs any longer.

Why I don't want to be a part of this "movement" any longer.  Take from it what you will.

1.  The scamblog movement is a Godless movement.

First, and foremost, this movement is a Godless movement.  I can tell that by the way people think and act.  There is no mention of the gifts that God has given us.  Instead, the only mention of life is how horrible it is for those people who seem to be hanging on to this idea that life is worthless if it is not perfect.  The movement reminds me of the whole emo subculture, but on a grander scale.  I have always believed that I should be thankful for each day that God has given me.  Looking back on my life, it has been overall wonderful.  God has given me so much and I know that law school won't end that.  To think in such a way is not only spitting in God's face, but it's stupid.  Plain and simple.  I don't see how any true Christian could run such a scamblog.  I know this argument won't hold much weight with those who are obsessed with destroying their own lives via the scamblogs, but to me, it's a very important factor in while I am leaving this Godless movement behind.  And I must say, I have not been this happy in a long time.

2.  It is self-destructive.

This goes along with point one.  No movement that is of God would be self destructive.  This movement is the most self destructive one that I have ever seen.  I say "movement" losely.  I should not even call it that, it's co-ruminating.  It's a group of people who failed helping each other feel better about doing nothing with their lives.  It is therapy that does nothing in the end.  It's a way to let life pass by while people sit on the internet doing nothing but complaining about life.  Instead of going out and making opportunities for themselves, the scambloggers would rather whine and complain about how they didn't get anything out of their law school studies.  Instead of waking up and moving forward, they stagnate and let their lives pass by while they whine whine whine.  There is nothing adult about whining all the time.  This proves to me that some people are 100% correct when they call these people entitled.  They act like the world should be handed to them, and if it isn't, there is a temper tantrum to be thrown.  In the end only they lose.  Death will come to them and they will be forgotten.  It's a just end, in my opinion.

3.  There is nothing to be gained from the movement.

What will be gained from this silly co-rumination?  Will the law schools all close down?  A few may, but it's inevitable that some will eventually, scamblogs or none.  Economics states when there are too many players in the market, some have to leave the market eventually.  There are too many law schools and some will close eventually.  Not because of whiny scamblogs, but because of supply and demand.  I am starting to honestly wonder how much these kids paid attention in college.  In fact, I am starting to think that they were too busy partying instead of learning.  And now they are complaining about it. 

4.  Law, as a profession, will not die as long as there are laws.  Laws will exist far longer than any of us will.

For the scambloggers to say that the law profession is dying is ludicrous.  This is one of the stupidest statements that comes from a "movement" made up of stupid statements.  Laws will be around all of our lives.  Law has existed since the beginning of civilization.  Maybe one day, far far in the future, there will be no need for law.  That won't be caused by scamblogs though.  Until law dies, there will be a need for lawyers. 

Having worked in a legal clinic this semester, I have seen people volunteer in order to get a job.  My boss stated that most everyone finds paying work after 6 months or so of volunteering at his office.  However, scambloggers really come across to me as being lazy entitled individuals who would rather have something handed to them.  Many have not even passed the bar.  One in particular who is louder than most proudly proclaims he didn't even try.  Instead he states that law school is a scam based on no real experience of his own.  Just because he cusses a lot and posts pictures of poop he gets a lot of attention.  If he acted more like an adult, the children would probably not take notice. 

It is one thing to listen to bloggers who took the bar and tried, but many were not committed to passing.  Again, one can not believe everything they read on the internet.  Many claim they "tried very hard," but I find this to be a lie.  Many who I have met who have tried "really hard" did find something.  Many work outside of law and are very happy with their jobs.  They don't make a lot, but life is a lot more than making money.  Further, it is one thing to say law school was a failed investment, it's another thing to waste your life online whining about it.  That's what these people do.  That's why this movement is nil to me.

5.  It's literally a wasted existence.

When I think of a wasted existence, I think of some of the scambloggers.  These people hate themselves and their lives so much that they are willing to spend it all complaining about being alive.  They have nothing in which they can be happy about, instead blaming everything that is bad on external forces.  They refuse to take responsibility and instead lament everything that happened to them since reaching adulthood.  Many live at home, and it is somewhat fitting that they have not truly grown up.  Many will not even try to move on with their lives because it is easier for them to stay at home and whine on the internet than to lift a finger.  In the end it's not the law schools that suffer, it's them.  Death will come and when one looks back on their life on their death bed, what do they see?  An entirely wasted wretched life.  A wasted existence. 

6.  It's depressing.

The longer I was posting about how I was going to be a failure, the worse I felt about myself.  Scamblogs are depressing to read.  I felt like trash every time I read them.  Many scambloggers must be sado-masochists, because there is no way you can feel good about yourself and your life after reading this stuff.  Scamblogs are full of tales of those who made it by not going to law school or those who were able to have a good life based on not starting college.  What about those who did well out of law school?  At least half end up doing well by monetary standards.  Money isn't everything, but the scambloggers have sold their souls for their love of money.  That's truly sad, because they are missing out on life.  If you want to end your depression you have to stop reading the filth that these blogs proclaim.

7.  Scambloggers are, in large, the laughing stock of society.  

Scamblogs are a very small and very vocal minority.  They have been featured in newspapers, but only because people like to read depressing statistics.  It is not healthy.  Those who are successful literally laugh at these blogs.  Most law students and graduates know that scamblogs are the trash of the internet.  Many have said I have no future.  They were right, when I read scamblogs I did not have a future.  Ever since I stopped reading Campo's hypocritical blog, I have felt good about my life.  Ever since JDPainter took down his blog, I felt that my life was moving on up.  Since I gave up spending time on Nando's blog, I found that I was no longer unsure of myself.  So what if I end up in "business and industry?"  I can make my own business.  The sky is the limit for me.  I have faith in myself, something that those who read scamblogs have lost.  Instead it's just a whining convention.

8.  I want to give my wife a good life.


Nobody should have a scamblog and be married to someone or have children.  To do so is to take so much away from those who you love.  I cringe over the fact that Nando has a child and runs that blog of his.  What kind of life is that for his wife and child?  How do they feel when he gets done writing an article.  Does he scream at his wife and call her a cockroach if she upsets him?  Does he talk to his child like he's the Colonel? 

Of course a scamblogger can't have a marriage that works.  Of course that kind of marriage would not be successful.  Most of these people still live at home or have had zero experience as an adult.  They are too busy basing life on what it's like to live with their parents.  They are all take and no give.  I can't even imagine being friends with these people.  How could I be married to one?  If you are reading this and you are married to one of these individuals, you should run away as fast as you can.  It is no surprise that many of my comments were from those who had failed marriages.  Scambloggers have failed everything in life.  Of course their marriages would end up in failure too!

9.  I know that with my outlook on life, I can never fall as hard as those who knew failure was imminent.


I am positive, and that is going to help me a lot.  It has been scientifically proven that those who think positive are far better off than those who are negative all the time.  Scambloggers are the most negative lot of people in the world.  They know that they will never succeed.  There is an excuse for everything.  The amount of cussing and profanity about others who did well is proof of that.  Their hatred for deans and professors and those who succeeded only shows intense jealousy.  They can't stand to leave the computer because they may see someone who is more successful than them.  They can't leave the country because they are terrified.  Anywhere outside of mother's house is scary to many of these people.  I am glad I don't think this way.  I am glad I left home over ten years ago.  I have done a lot of growing up since then.  You can't be an adult when you depend on everyone else to live your life for you.  You can't be adult when you are blaming the world for your failures. 

Where many of the scambloggers would be if it wasn't for their parents.

10.  I don't want to end up like the other bloggers. 

Ending up like some of these people is one of the scariest ideas in the world to me.  This is the biggest reason I left this "movement" behind.  When I used to read Campo's blog I would see people with so much hate tearing themselves and their schools apart.  They had nothing to be proud of.  These people expected prestige, and for what?  These people are not the kind that are deserving of any prestige.  They are the kind that one expects to find living under a bridge or in the sewers.  If it was not for their parents taking them in and coddling them through life, they would be homeless bums.  These people have it so good and yet complain over and over again.  Talk about entitled.

11.  There are jobs out there.  Even for those with JDs.


I have a brother with no education who can continuously find job after job that pays him decent money.  Although he has no loans, even if he did, after paying 15% he would still have plenty left over.  I have seen many people with JDs who have found success.  Many ex-scambloggers have left the movement after finding a job.  They realized that their blogs were just a lie and a waste of time.  The excuse that "a JD is a scarlet letter" is only an excuse to stop trying.  Many people think that sending out resumes blindly is the only way to find a job.  They do not want to work and fill out a good application package or pound the pavement for a job.  They don't want to talk to people.  Again, they are TERRIFIED OF LEAVING THEIR HOMES.  Why leave the safety of the internet and all your scamblogging friends behind? 

12.  Money is not the sole reason for my existence.

I have lived on food stamps at one time.  No matter what JDpainter says, I don't care what o'Hannity Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter thinks of that.  My life is mine alone.  I realize that welfare is a safety net that exists to help a person climb out of poverty.  I am not the kind that would become dependent on it and complacent with life.  I can't imagine caring about what people on the radio think of me.  There's a reason I don't listen to that stuff.  It's all garbage, like these blogs. 

I have found that I could live well off a small amount of money.  I have lived decently in Manhattan off of $25,000 last year and have zero credit card or non-educational debt.  I even traveled a couple of times in the last year.  It's called being frugal and learning how to make your own things.  That idea is absurd to scambloggers who have no grasp of money.  A fool and his money is soon parted they say, and that's why scambloggers have so very little of it.
   
13.  I have options. 

Life is full of options.  I may move to Thailand one day and live cheaply there.  I may start my own non-profit or business.  I see life as being full of opportunities to make money and to better myself.  That's one thing I have learned in the years living away from home.  I learned what it was like to live in poverty and I learned a lot of lessons about how to save money and still be happy.  I learned that I would be happy in a variety of places.  When scambloggers tell me what my future is going to be like, I realize they have no clue about who I am or where I have been.  They think that I'm just like them.  I am not.  I am far different. 

14.  I may die at any time.

Life ends unexpectedly.  We all eventually die.  We could die in 20 years or even tomorrow.  Why should I waste all day whining on the internet about my life?  Why not enjoy it for what it is?  So what you didn't get a job out of law school?  Is whining about it going to make it all better?  No, it won't.  Stop co-ruminating and do something with your life.  Grow the hell up and be an adult.  You are not going to impress anyone by whining like an entitled little child.

15.  Life is what you make of it.

In the end life is what you make of it.  You have to realize this and start making your life worth living.  Most of the scambloggers only have one direction in which they can move.  And that's up.  Some of you are going to have to plan and take action.  Many of you are used to not getting anything done.  Some of you want to write a book.  Then write it.  That should not stop you in a world where it's so easy to get published.  I have sold some of my own books and made a decent amount of money in the last few months.  It's not that hard.  Yet you let your skills go to waste while you complain about life.  That's a shame.  You're not hurting the law schools -- you're only hurting yourselves. 

I'm Thankful for Everything

I knew that some would be angry with my last post.  That being said, sometimes the right move is not the most popular move.  I felt, no wait, KNEW that I was going down the wrong path when I started to read the negative comments that were on my blog regarding marriage.  However, it was not just about marriage, it was everything over a long time.  I saw some people literally destroying their lives and tearing themselves apart and blaming it all on law school.  I don't want to become that.  I have seen some people literally stop living because they have this idea in their head that life is over because they have a law degree.  They won't even try to have a good life because of this fantasy that is in their head.  They honestly think that the law degree made life stop.  It's one thing to be angry at law school for charging too much, I get that.  It's also one thing to be angry at law schools for not telling students the realities of the profession.  I get that too.  What I do not get, nor will ever get is how a law degree becomes an excuse to literally stop living life and becoming a negative, hateful and cynical individual.  I mean, some of these people are parents, others have families that love them, others have chances to do well, and by well I don't necessarily mean having money.  Instead of seeing that though, some of these people only see failure.  They let it eat at them and it destroys their life.  Law school is NOT an excuse to stop living.

For those of you who are parents, you have to ask yourselves what you are giving your children by looking at the world in the way you do.  For those of you who are married, what are you giving your spouses when you spend Christmas on the internet on law school forums and blogs?  For those of you who have goals and hobbies, what are you doing to better those goals and hobbies by wasting, yes WASTING your life on the internet reading Campos and other blogs, commenting and arguing amongst each other?  I get that people are angry.  I was sad when I found out that I had a much smaller chance of getting a legal job than I thought I did when I started.  But that would never be a reason for me to stop living my life.  That would never be a reason for me to stop trying.

If a person does not get married to someone they love because a few people on the internet say not to, then they are perhaps making a grave error (one thing I have learned is to be wary of trusting those who lurk on the internet).  I would say that many of the people who have let law school destroy their lives should not get married.  I only foresee divorce in that instance.  Why?  Because, what is the point being married to a person who is self-destructive?  There is very little chance of a marriage like that lasting.  There is even a smaller chance of such a marriage being a happy one.  If you are one of the people who curses your life and curses law school because it rained down havoc on your life, please do whoever you were thinking about marrying a favor and don't do it. 

Maybe, however, you do think that going to law school was a bad choice, a bad investment, and move on with your life.  Maybe you are a bit angry about it, but you are not going to sit around and ignore your family and post hateful things about school and attack others and tell other people to stop living life.  Maybe you understand that life is full of variables and there are other opportunities ahead for you?  If this is you, then I can see eye to eye with that.  Then I would say, get married.  How some of these people even got into law school is a mystery to me.  Honestly, if there is one thing that the scamblogs are right about, it's that law schools need to be more selective and filter these people out.  They do not belong in law school.  They do not belong in the higher echelons of society.  No way.  No how.

I am thankful for everything I have been given.  To say otherwise would be spitting in God's face.  I know that many people here are not religious, but as a person who is, I will say that I have been provided a lot, and even if I don't get a job, I got that which I asked for.  I have met a great person, I have come to terms with the fact that life is mysterious often and that things may not always go as I thought they would.  I also realize that I am in charge of my own destiny, and by giving up or complaining, I will only find myself stagnating and destroying my own self. 

I have spent these last few years in college living in places I never thought I would live in.  College has allowed me to live in and visit some of the finest places.  It has allowed me to open my mind and see the world far far differently than my family and many of my friends who did not go to college.  I know a vast amount of information that many people can't even comprehend.  Before I started school I was unsure of my abilities and did not like myself very much.  I thought I was a loser and somewhat stupid.  College made me realize that I loved to learn and to seek out knowledge.  It helped me to meet others and the loans paid off my rent while I learned.  The loans even helped me travel.  I visited some amazing places.  I mentioned here that I went to Thailand for a couple of months.  I also traveled to Europe.  My family has never left the Western US.  I have visited places that many people dream of. 

Yes, now I owe a lot of money due to the fact that college allowed me to do all this.  However, I am thankful for the fact that I can pay it off at a rate of 15% of my paycheck.  If I get a job in a nonprofit, it will be for 10 years.  If not, 30.  That's not a huge price to pay.  College also taught me to be very frugal.  I did not feel the need to dress to impress, live in the finest apartments, or to eat out every night.  I taught myself to cook, to shop for inexpensive things, to make things myself.  Due to inspiration from some of my professors, I earned money selling things on the side.  College provided me with a work study that helped me fund my undergrad.  To turn around and say that everything about college was bad would be asinine.  For me, it was a great experience, and when I reflect on it, I am very glad I went.  Yes, it's going to be hard to pay back the money.  It will not break me though.  I will continue to remind myself all that college gave me.  I didn't go to college just to make a lot of money in the future.  I went to make myself into a better person, as cliche as that may sound.  Not only did I learn how to make money on my own, I also learned how to not throw it around.  Even though I traveled during college, I traveled cheaply. 

In the end, we all die.  How do I not know that I may die tomorrow, or in a couple of years?  We don't know when our lives will end.  Why lament my future when I may have lived almost the entire life that has been given to me?  Why curse law school when I can spend the rest of my days enjoying that which I do have?

I know beyond a doubt that I will not let law school destroy me.  I will not become like those who gave their futures up because they did not get their own way.  No.  That is such a waste of a life.  It would honestly be better that those people were never born.  I can't help but pity some of those people who honestly have fooled themselves into believing that they can no longer live a happy life.  In fact, when I think about it, it's no more than an adult temper tantrum on the internet.  And that's pathetic to me.

Are the Scamblogs Wrong?

Lately I have been giving it a lot of thought.  Some of my recent comments have been disheartening about marriage.  Not the fact that I should not get married, or that I am maybe not ready, but the comments having to do with one should not even bother getting married.  The way some people think only hurts themselves.  To give up on life because you did not get a job after law school or because you are afraid of not getting a job after law school is quite stupid.  I must say, after reading some of the comments to my previous posts on marriage I am starting to question the ways of thinking among some of the people who read these scamblogs.  I am almost starting to think that some of these people are self-sabotaging individuals who may have not have succeeded no matter what because they were perhaps afraid of success, or never expected themselves to get ahead in life.

What is the point of not doing something you long to do?  What is the point of not even trying in life?  Honestly, you might as well be dead, because that is not living.  To say one is not a special snowflake is one thing, but to damn yourself to a life of suffering in order to prove a point is another. 

I used to go to the Craigslist frugal forum.  It was full of people who tried to live as cheaply as possible by dumpster diving and not using heat.  Some people would talk about lighting a candle instead of turning on the heater in the winter.  They would sit in front of the candle and just let it burn and feel the warmth.  These people talk about it every year, how they save money on heating by lighting a candle.  They spend the whole winter cold to save a few bucks.  What's the point on saving money if you are suffering through life?  What are you saving it for? 

What is the point in not getting married or not trying in life because you did not get a job after law school?  What is the point in feeling sorry for yourself over the internet year after year?  There has to honestly come a time when you get off the internet and start striving again.  I just can't get over the fact that law school has broken so many people.  I can't come up with any other conclusion than these people were very weak individuals.  Some seem to literally revel in their own self pity, wallowing in the perceived idea that they are pariahs.  Many act as if they have given up on life, instead of trying to do something else, they just say "I can't do anything with my degree."  Some come up with ideas on how one without a college education could get a job.  One individual was talking about what he would do if he was a pizza delivery person.  He stated that he would work late, get the good routes, buy a used car, keep it in good shape, and then deliver pizzas to the best hoods.  He would then put in some of that money he earned and buy partial ownership in a pizza restaurant.  Why can't this individual do that with his law degree?  What's holding him back?  Why do people come up with these "what if" ideas and never do anything with them? 

Is the law degree stopping people from getting a plumber's apprenticeship, another degree, a pizza delivery job, learning a skill, etc.?  If anything, many law graduates who are disgruntled say that they have a lot of time on their hands due to not having a job.  The amount of time that many spend on the internet only proves to me that they could spend their time bettering themselves and earning money in another way. 

More lately I removed Campos' blog from my list because I think he is a phoney.  I should have done it a long time ago.  Other people who I have talked to wonder why a professor who earns money as a result of this so-called "scam" would be running an anti-law school blog.  I have wondered if this is just because he can not publish a law review article and instead gets his fifteen minutes of fame by derailing the movement that is against everything he does.  In short, I believe his blog stands only for hypocrisy.  Why scambloggers, people who were intelligent enough to go to law school, can not see through it has always baffled me.  Look: this man is not going to give up his job in legal academia.  He will continue to be a part of the so-called "scam" and will continue to get press by his posts that claim that he is against it.  More on that in the future.

I am still young enough to realize that I have a lot of time in which I can shape my life.  Even if I did not get a legal job, something I am fully prepared for, I will not let that stop me from living.  I will continue to do my best to get the most out of life.  I will not settle for the idea that I would ruin a woman's life or that a woman would be unhappy with someone with student loan debt.  While many do not like IBR, the reality is that it is the resource that many can use while it is available.  It is not ideal, but why whine about it?  Further, I know that if I get a job in a non-profit or start my own, I can have my loans forgiven in 10 years.  Instead of saying "that will never happen" I will accept the possibility that it will.  Why should a person spend their days whining about what may or may not happen?  If you sit on your butt in front of the internet and whine about your life, nothing will happen.  I feel that is what the majority of the scamblogger movement is doing.  After reading some of the comments on recent posts that prove to me that people are acting this way, I am starting to realize that I do not want to live this way.  If I end up thinking like these people, what is the point of living?  Honestly, there is no point to life if you spend Christmas on a scam blog lamenting law school and your life.  That is a sick pathetic life that I will not live.  It's quite disgusting.  The whole thing seems disgusting to me.  And that's why I think that many of these blogs disappear after a while.  Other people let the movement destroy their mind slowly until they are incoherent and believe conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory.  They go mad, blaming every misfortune in their life on the scam blogs.  Misfortunes such as divorce, the lack of children, no job, bad health, and everything else under the sun.  This is not law school's fault.  This is largely your fault.  However, those who have given into the cult idea that law school is to blame for everything will continue to buy into the idea that this is wrong and they are right.  Many are too far gone.  They have traded their life, and their soul, for the idea that law school ruined their life. 

The reality is: you are destroying your own life.  You can stop at any time.  I am putting a stop to destroying my own life right now.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  I am still deciding whether or not to get married, but will be hanging out with the possible future wife today.  I hope everyone has a safe and joyful holiday. 

Getting Married as a Student Debtor.

The "average cost of wedding" thing is irrelevant and somewhat stupid in my opinion, otherwise, this is interesting.  My debt, however is way more than $20,000.  I really don't understand how the average is so low.

My fall semester of law school is now done.  I will soon be getting my grades back for the six classes that I took this semester.  I will say that, on balance, this semester was a lot easier than the first semester of my second year, and maybe even last semester.  I was scared to death of my Bankruptcy final, but it wasn't so bad.  I am hoping that I got at least an A- in the class.  Only time will tell though. 

I gave a lot of thought towards the idea of getting married.  The issues of getting married as a student loan debtor seem to be:

• Can I give my future spouse a good life with a lot of student debt?
• Will this debt affect our relationship and the love for each other?
• Would I be happier being in debt and single or being married?
• Are we both mature enough to enter into marriage?
• What do we both want for our future?
• Is she fully aware that getting a job after college for me is going to be a challenge?
• What will her family think of her marrying a debtor?
• What do we both realistically expect out of life?
• If we did want children (we don't) would the level of debt hinder us from having children?
• When do we want to retire and will we be able to?
• If I was to leave the country, would she want to come with me?
• Will she have the same level of student loan debt herself?

I think the above questions are worth thinking about in great detail.  I am still leaning on the side of marriage.  Reading through some of the comments on my last post was, in a way, disheartening.  Many people did seem very adamant about me not getting married.  One comment was downright vile.  Others seemed to think that a marriage was alright in my situation.  I do believe that many people hold themselves back in life.  Furthermore, I have no clue why a debtor should not feel that they could get married or have children.  Life will not be easy for the debtor in marriage.  Life isn't easy for anyone, though.  There are many challenges that we all face, no matter what our position.  If I was a big law lawyer with zero debt and a high consumption lifestyle, would life be easy for us?  My wife may be upset that I work all the time and never spend time with her.  That's a reality that many who did "luck out" have to deal with.  Very few people in this world have it "easy." 

What do we both want for our future?

We have talked a lot about this.  I always thought that it was important to have a spouse that had similar goals and dreams.    We both want to one day open our own business.  We both want to see new places.  We both do not want children.  We both don't feel that it is necessary to spend a lot of money to be happy.  We both want to own property one day.  We feel that these goals are obtainable for the both of us, even with debt.

What will her family think of her getting married to a person with high student loan debt?

I am not sure what they are going to think of it.  We realize that we do not need to tell everyone about every aspect of our lives.  It is not really either of our families business how much debt we have, mainly because 1. they didn't cosign on our loans, and 2. we are both adults who are funding our own education ourselves.  I have not told my family that I have a lot of debt.  They would be surprised to find that out.  I will not tell them, because, as an adult my life is mine.  I made the choice, and although it will be hard, there is nothing they can do about it and I realize that I do not want to hear about it.

Having children with high student loan debt.

We both do not want children of our own.  However, I don't think student loan debt would stop us from having children.  Again, we do not feel that we need to live like royalty.  Children need a loving environment where parents spend time nurturing and letting them learn about the world.  A child does not need to be raised on material possessions and unceasing entertainment.  An educated person who values learning has a lot to offer a child.  Sadly, many of the educated individuals with student loan debt are not having children.   I may write more on this subject in the future, as I think it is worth discussing. 

Will we be able to retire with our student loan debt?

Probably, but it may be later than some.  If not luxuriously, it's not a huge deal.  There's always ways in which a person can get by.  There are always places one can retire even if it is not in luxury.  There are some great places around the world that one can live cheaply in. 

I'm Getting Married!!!

Well, I asked her to marry me.  For those who do not know, I was seeing a very nice young lady a while back.  It has been going very well over the last few months.  We did not get to see much of each other because I have been inundated with school.  I sometimes would skip class to hang out with her, but when she found out about that she frowned on it.  So, I went to class.  For her. 

I have heard so many times that getting married with student loan debt was a bad idea.  I wondered if I should bother "ruining" her life with my huge debt.  While I have six figure debt, her debt load due to college is very manageable and will probably be paid off quickly.  I talked to her about this and told her that it was a concern of mine.  She mentioned that she was not too worried about it and that there is a good program that would help me with paying it back.  It's called "IBR" she said.  I told her I knew all about that. 

She said that she somewhat liked the idea of the "challenge" that will be before us.  She is happy to be marrying someone who can be willing to stay positive when he has debt that will probably be over $300,000 by the time he graduates law school.

We are going to have a small wedding.  Nothing big.  Both of us feel that spending thousands, or even hundreds of dollars for a wedding is silly.  Why put yourself into such huge debt just for a ceremony?  We have the rest of our lives to live together, and we might as well start it out right.  Plus, we will have enough debt without having to worry about wedding debt.

It was at grocery store when I asked her.  I just felt that I should ask.  It was like this.

Me:  So, what do you think about getting married?
Her: I, um, never really thought, I mean.  It sounds nice.  I would like to get married one day.
Me:  I would like to marry you is what I am saying.
Her:  Oh.  (Long pause).  Really?
Me:  Yeah.  I would.  I like you a lot.
Her:  Alright.  I just didn't expect it... Oh, we're next in line.

Where we want to have our honeymoon!

Later that evening before I took her to her place we talked about the marriage plans.  She mentioned having a small wedding, but at her church.  I said that was fine.  She also said that she would like to still not move in with me until we are married.  I told her I felt the same way. 

By the time it was all said and done (and after we looked at pictures of places to go on a honeymoon, mostly in the Maldives), we were both so excited.  It was almost 10:00 PM when she got home!

So, with that in mind, we are thinking of getting married November 12th, 2013.  11/12/13!  I will be posting pictures here probably.  I am just so happy writing this.  I imagine this is going to affect some of my final grades because I can't stop thinking about marriage and all that.  I just can't stop thinking about how great life is going to be!

You Reap What You Sow

I have always lived by the 'creed' that you "reap what you sow."  It is one thing in life that has proven to be a constant to me.  Those who spend their lives wasting time are the ones who end up lamenting it.  I have known many people who are very unhappy with their lives who blame everyone else for their problems.  This has been true of a few family members of mine and I must say that I can not feel too bad for their predicament.   Of course, I no longer talk to these people because they, frankly, disgust me more and more as the years pass. 

One such family member has spent her life amassing babies and boyfriends.  And more boyfriends and husbands.  Another family member has spent her life looking for "Mr. Right" on the internet, having given up her family.  Who knows if she ever found him?  Some people whine and complain that their lives should just "fall into place" by virtue of them being alive.  That's, thankfully, not how life works.   One should never reap the rewards for doing things that destroy their lives.  Of course, many will disagree.  One has to work and be smart in life in order to get ahead. 

You reap what you sow.  There is no doubt about it.  Sadly, the world today seems so entitled.  I constantly hear how certain groups, such as college graduates, are entitled.  But I am talking about society as a whole.  It's quite disgusting to me.  Our current society, our materially obsessed society, is entitled.  I see it more apparent than ever around the holidays.  People think that they should get certain things just because it is Christmas.  As if the reason for the holidays is for material gain.  And, to think that in a few months all that stuff will just be thrown away or forgotten.  What's the point of it all? 

One expects the world to be handed to them on a silver platter.  One expects that others bend over backwards to them by virtue of who one perceives him/herself to be.  Delusions of grandeur is apparent with many.  One things that others just must serve them by virtue of the fact that one is alive. 

But, the end is death, isn't it?  Everyone knows someone who is on the verge of death.  What is the point of it all?  Is life really just about materialism?  Does it matter how much one amasses?  It's all junk and vanity.  It's all just a waste.  You are special, but you are not great.  You are just a human being, equal to all.  You are special, but you are not wonderful.  You may feel sometimes entitled, but did you earn it?

The clock of life is ticking.  You too shall die.

LSAT Score: Overrated.

One fallacy I am seeing a lot lately is that those with a bad LSAT score have no business in law school.  I, however, understand that a bad LSAT score does not mean a person is too dumb for law school.  Of course, such an assertion may not be well received.  Many law schools claim to take a "holistic" approach with a law school candidate.  But the truth of the matter is, it all comes down to the LSAT.  It's the world's obsession with standardized tests that is the winner of the day.  Let me just say right now, I believe that the LSAT is a faulty test that only gives into this bastardized-logic about smarter people being better at standardized tests. 

Standardized tests benefit the rich.  They can be gamed, and are easily by those who can afford $1000 for a course that allows them to 'beat' it.  Poorer students don't have the ability to pay the kind of money to compete with a kid that may otherwise have done poor in undergrad and yet was able to afford "test prep."  Let me say this right now: if you can "prepare" for a test in a few weeks by the virtue of having enough money, that test does not show your inherent intelligence.  Instead, it shows that you could afford to take a test and get better at it.  Yet society and it's "conventional wisdom" eats standardized tests up all day long.  And it does nothing for those who are intelligent throughout life but who are not good at these tests.

Standardized tests are highly worthless when compared to a track record of a person.  Yet, a law school weighs an LSAT score higher than an undergraduate GPA.  An undergraduate GPA takes four years to accumulate.  While, taken alone, the undergraduate GPA is not a complete assessment of a person.  However, it's a much better assessment of one's intelligence than any test that can be gamed.

Lately I have seen a lot of people saying that law schools should not admit kids in with an LSAT under 160.  Why is that?  Because those who are buying test prep materials and classes are those who are most likely to score the 160s and up?  I have known many people who do horrible on the LSAT who get top scores in law classes.  The LSAT, my friends, is a worthless test.  It only furthers so-called "conventional wisdom" that says that standardized tests are the only thing that matters and if a person can not do well on a three hour test, than they are not smart.  Yet, reality says the opposite.  There are many individuals who don't score a 160 or higher on an LSAT and who do things with their lives and even their degrees.  Whose the smart one?  A kid who gets a 170 on his LSAT, goes through law school getting mediocre grades (or even above average), and ends up not being able to find work, lamenting his life, or the kid who gets a 152 and lives according to his dreams, even if it means he can't find a legal job?

And yes, I did horrible on my LSAT.  I barely studied though, to be honest.  Further, I think the test conditions were just awful.  That being said, I did how I did.  I could have taken a class and got a 170.  No doubt.  Yet, I know I can do very well in my law classes when I put my mind to it.  I have gotten near the highest grades in some classes (and near the lowest in others, due to not trying).  My LSAT score had nothing to do with it.  It's largely irrelevant.  However, it helps those out who 1.  make money off the LSAT and LSAT prep companies, and 2. fuels the backwards law school rankings that are, frankly, stupid. 

The LSAT "allegedly serves as a standardized measure of one's ability to succeed during law school."  This allegation is FALSE.  Those who do AWESOME PO-POSSOM on the LSAT sometimes blow in law school.  Many of those who do Les Miserables on the LSAT melt faces during law school.  Conventional wisdom once again fails (as it always does).

Derailed at My Law School: Now an eBook through Amazon.com!

Now the story that you saw here, Derailed by My Law School, is available as an eBook though Amazon. 

However, this is not the same exact story.  It has been expanded, edited, and updated, with more material.  Law school is a terrifying place, but for some, the terror is just too much!  If you are a prospective law student, this is the perfect book to get you all jittery about the way you may feel during your third year.

So, if you are looking for a nice read about a student who is just trying to make it through his third year of law school, pick up the book: Derailed at My Law School: The Story of a Terror-Stricken Third Year Law Student.

A Hoax, A Death, and an Archaic Tradition.

I recently heard from a source that the nurse who was assisting the dutchess in England killed herself due to a hoax.  Crazy huh?  Crazy and very, very sad.   And very stupid, on the part of humanity as a whole.  The culture that perpetuates this myth, this HOAX OF HOAXES that someone can truly be better than another by virtue of birth, should be ashamed of itself.  Shame, shame, a thousand shames!

Why did she do herself in though?  Because she told the status of a person who the world seems to (stupidly) think is 'larger than life'?  Are you serious?  So, let me get this straight.  She ended her life because she told a radio DJ the condition of another human being?  Or did she kill herself because she told a radio DJ the condition of a person who is somehow, by marriage to a person that is by birth, greater than you and me? 

I think the idea of royalty is archiac.  To be honest, it's quite amazing that such a thing is still perpetuated.  Given a status by virtue of birth is stupid, pure and simple.  To say that someone's time on this Earth, their status, can be determined by birth, is disgusting to me. 

What if the nurse had been duped into telling the condition of a regular patient?  Would have she felt compelled to end her life?  It's sad, tragic, and horrible that she felt the need to end her life as a result of giving information that was probably, in whole, not a big deal.  So what, the population learned the condition of a person?  Why should have she been compelled to end her life?  Why should people feel the need to put someone on a pedestal as a result of their standing, which was determined by a person's birth (the prince who was born a prince).

I relate this story to the story of my brother in law.  I mentioned him before on this blog.  He exists, in this life, a businessman.  Had he been born from a father who did not start a trucking company, he would not be in his lofty position.  Yet, he is in the position, and he acts as if he is the smartest man alive as a result of his birth.  As if he created the business.  In reality, if he was not born into wealth, he would probably be in jail right now. 

So, I leave this rather disjointed entry asking: "why should a person be more respected than another person just by virtue of birth?"  And, what's the point of obsessing over another human being when you have only one life of your own to live?  Why is there so much adoration for people that, had they not been born in their position, are just the same as you and me?

Derailed at my Law School III: The Dean's Ultimate Revenge

I recently posted a couple of posts, which can be read here.  Please read those first posts before you continue with this, the final chapter of "Derailed at My Law School."

Part I: Derailed at My Law School
Part II:  Return to the Dean

Derailed at My Law School III: The Dean's Ultimate Revenge

As you can imagine, it was very hard for me to sleep after the whole incident that happened the night before at my top 150 ranked law school.  I had indeed told the dean off, but at what cost?  Now I knew that I was in serious trouble.  In fact, I was not sure if I would be kicked out of the school, but the thought had occurred to me.  If I was kicked out how would I survive the next semester?  I would need those loans to live off of.  More so, I would need that law degree to get me a comfy job at Kentucky Fried Chicken.  After all, somewhere I had read that they were hiring people who had a law degree.  Another part of me thought that maybe I would not get kicked out.  I mean, I figured it would look bad if I got thrown out due to standing up for myself at a law school.  However, just the thought of being removed from law school when I was so close to graduating was terrifying to me. 

I thought it over long and hard and decided that I would go apologize to the dean.  I figured that was the only thing I could do to save face and maybe finish law school.  And it was the only thing I could do in order to get myself to finally fall asleep as I laid there on my futon on my dark basement apartment.  It was the only thing I could do to get myself to fall fast asleep on that terrifying night. 

The very next day I found myself out on the grass outside of my law school.  I looked at the building.  It had not looked so good since the first day I started at this school.  Back then I was so excited.  Law school, it was a dream come true.  The first in my family to be a lawyer.  Hell, the first in my family to use his noggin to finish college!  Darn tootin!  Even though the weather was cold and the trees were all naked, I looked at it in a different way.  The huge walls stood before me, and up in there was the dean, sitting there, probably looking through his salary history or talking to a pretty young lass.  He was always being followed by the hottest of the hot at the law school. 

I decided I would not linger around thinking and daydreaming, and instead made my way to the dean.  Upon reaching the top of the building where the dean's office overlooks the city below, I caught the eye of his secretary, who had heard of me by this time. 

Let me describe her before I continue with what had happened.  First, she was tall, almost my height, which was really exciting to me.  Second, she had long golden suntouched hair, which was exotic to the core.  Third, her legs were not burdened by pantyhose.  They were pale and long, and somewhat muscular.  I envied the dean, who could see those legs as she sat with her back towards him when his door was open.  His desk faced her, and behind him was the most awesome view.  Almost as nice as the view of this fine specimen that I must say I was greatly attracted to.

"He does not want to see you," she said, immediately scowling at me when I made my way into the office.  Her face was not nearly as pretty as her body.  In fact, when she glared at me, her face looked like a cross between a mole rat and a pair of fuzzy dice that has been mangled by a pit bull.
 


"I just need to..."
"No, he told me that he does not want to talk to you."

I stood there, not knowing what to say.  There she was, the gatekeeper, to the man I was dying to speak with.  I understood that he did not want to see me.  After all, he probably was hurt by the way I ripped him up the other day.  But, on the other hand, I only told him what I felt, and I was angry.  Is it so bad to stand up for one's self?

I took this with my camera as I left.

"Even if he wanted to see you, he is very busy right now," she said, glaring at me still.  I looked away from her for a moment until she fixed that face of hers.
"You know," I finally said, "I pay a lot of money to go to this school.  I have given a lot of my time and I feel that I have a right to see him."
"I am going to have to ask you to leave right..." she began, when he stepped outside holding onto a golf club.  Yes, a golf club!  As if he had a friggin' golf course in there.  As if he was ridin' around in a golf buggy!  Why the hades did he hold a nine iron, or whatever it was, in his hand!?
"It's fine, Patricia, let him in," he said, giving her a soothing glance.  I didn't even bother wasting my eyesight on her and slipped into the dean's office.

"How can I help you?" he said, putting the golf club down.  Next to his desk stood a miniature golf set up like the CEOs have.  I could not believe it.  This is what a dean does in his free time!

"What do you want?" he said, noticing me staring at his little golf set up. 
"I came to say that I am sorry about yesterday.  I have been under a lot of stress lately.  Finals are coming and I am just scared."

"I know," he began.  "I know you are scared.  You are not alone.  I have talked to a lot of the people at this school lately and they are all scared.  Terrified even.  And, you know, I do tell them that I am implementing new programs. First of all, I am beefing up career services.  I am even hiring some of our school's own graduates to work part time in the career services office.  I am going to raise scholarships for the upcoming classes.  The class of 2016 will be getting our biggest scholarships ever with fewer restrictions.  Full scholarships for the top 10% of the first year class!  Plus, on top of that, I am going to implement more clinics to help our future students reach the new state pro bono requirement."

I did not know what to say.  None of that stuff would do me any good.  So what the class of 2016 is getting bigger scholarships, I thought.  He continued before I could even say a word.

"But, one thing that I don't understand is that those other students who are scared, they don't post blog entries on the internet about how awful law school is.  Hell, they all tell me that they enjoy it here.  They are happy that they got into a top 150 law school.  They are proud to be here.  On top of that, they would never explode at me the way you did.  They are nervous about finals as well.  We all have to work here, and you are no exception.  But you seem to not enjoy having to work.  You would rather have it all handed to you, like some kind of free loader.  Looking at your transcript, I can tell your grades are near the lowest at this school.  Most schools would flunk you out with that kind of performance.  You should have never passed Federal Income Tax or Evidence.  Yet, you slid by, because of how generous this school is."

I must say that I was more than upset that the dean looked through my transcript.  I thought that was private information and he just went through it. 

"But, I don't have to worry about it anymore.  I have talked to all your professors this year.  They are not going to pass you.  I gave them your student ID number, and they are going to flunk you out.  I am done with you and your blog.  You'll never get into another law school either.  Not now.  No school will take you."

"Why?" I said.  "I came to apologize!"

"I take my position as dean very seriously.  I gave you the opportunity to repent," he said, clenching his hand in a fist as he spoke.  "Yet, you figured that you would continue to post on that damn blog of yours!  And, if that is not bad enough, you continue to post on that blog, and you will post about everything I do.  I told my secretary to not let you in here because I didn't want to see your little story about me on your blog.  And I know you are going to post again, no matter what you say or no matter what I offer you.  The reason you scambloggers don't get legal jobs is because you are inept morons.  You were all given something from us and it was never good enough for you.  You were given the opportunity to go to a very high ranked law school, the opportunity to get a generous scholarship to offset your reasonable tuition.  How dare you complain that law school is so expensive when very few people here pay full price for the pleasure!"  He was screaming now.  Screaming!  I just sat there, in awe.  I did not get a scholarship.  I was paying full price, and the bastard knew that!

"Nothing is good for your kind.  You are the leeches of society.  Some people; people like me, we build things.  And people like you, you tear them down (he hissed this, and phlegm was going everywhere as he spoke).  You scamblogger types all think that you can destroy the legal profession!  You all think that you can bring us down to suit your needs!  You realize that there is no way, though.  Oh yes, you do! You can't stop us!  There is nothing wrong with what we are doing!  Educating society is not a crime!  Your libel is though, and the law will catch up with all of you!"

I was in awe here, almost crying, to be honest.  I had never been so scared at the volatility of a man in my life.  And I could tell he was fast losing it.  As he was screaming at me he was clawing into his arm and blood was starting to trickle up where his finger nails were starting to dig in.  And it was like he didn't even know it.  He was oblivious to it all as he sat there, ripping me apart with his words.

"You act like I do nothing here at this school, that I just sit around.  But I work my ass off.  When you are at home watching Dr. Who, I am figuring out how to get you people jobs!  When you are laying in your bed trying to fall asleep, I am trying to raise this school's rank on the U.S. News and World Report rankings!  When you..."

He stopped.  He turned around, and picked up the golf club and stared for a moment at the window.  Then he took that club and he threw it right at the glass.  It bounced off, putting a large crack in it.   

"Are you alright?" the secretary said, rushing into the room with a terrified look on her face.

He said nothing for a moment.  Then he turned around.  Clenching his teeth, he said, very slowly.

"Get.  Out.  Of.  Here."

She backed out and shut the door without so much as a word. 

"I am really sorry," I said.  "That's all I came to say.  I am sorry." 

"You will be."  He went to his desk and he sat down and opened his desk drawer. 

"I just wanted to say that," I said, standing up.  "That's all I came to do." 

"I don't care anymore.  I gave everything to this profession.  I went to law school, too, and went through all the Socratic method myself and I never complained.  It took me a month to get my first job, and I never complained.  I had no help from Harvard's career services back then!" he hissed. 

"I see," I said, making my way to the door. 

"Come here," he said, somewhat calmly.  I changed course, and walked toward him, not thinking otherwise.  It was like my legs just moved without my mind working them.  It was like I had no control.  I should have ran.  I should have turned around and got the heck out of there.  I then realized I should have listened to some of my earlier comments and just dropped out.  But I was stupid.  Oh how stupid I was!

"Closer," he beckoned.  His expertly crafted teeth gleamed in the sunlight which beamed into that executive office as he commanded me to move towards him.  His nostrils flared in tandem, like twin hyenas pacing around a young gazelle, and his face darkened to a deep crimson red, as if lit up by the blistering fires of Hell itself. 

I was there, right next to his desk when I saw something black that scintillated as the dean held it.  He brought it up and in an instant, just as my mind registered that which he possessed, I heard an eardrum bursting bang.  In a fraction of a mere second, I felt my own skull cracking and exploding open as my body fell.  Intense pain shot through me as I felt darkness cover me.  My head toppled onto the desk right before bouncing off of it and slamming against the floor.  Blood gushed from my head, my nose, and also exited though my mouth.  The secretary rushed in immediately, and before she screamed, she saw the dean take his boot and slam it into my skull, busting my jaw, my nose, and snapping my neck.  I laid there, dead on the floor, as that janitor who had started it all, came in and began to clean up the remains of a decimated body that was spread on the floor right there before the dean. 

“The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers students.”
― William Shakespeare, King Dean Henry VI, Part 2

***

So there I stood in the bathroom of my law school holding a piece of paper with the name of my blog "LawSchoolFail." I brought it towards the wall and started to tape it there when I heard the janitor outside.  I wondered what would happen if I was caught.  Where would I end up if the janitor came in and saw me hanging up the advertisement for my blog?  Surely the dean would not be happy.  I could possibly be kicked out of the school!  And then what?  I thought it over, coming up with a realistic sounding possibility in my mind.  A possibility that could only end in my disfavor.

I quickly took the advertisement down and thrust it back into my bag as the janitor walked in. 

"Oh, didn't know this was occupied," he said, smiling.  "How are you today?"
"I am fine, yourself?"
"Great.  If you are done, I will just get to cleaning up in here."
"It's all yours," I said.  Looking at my watch, I realized that class was about to start. 

"It's best that people find this blog on Google," I told myself, making my way to class.

The End.

College Students: The New Indentured Class?

Are college students and graduates perhaps the new members of the indentured servitude class?  It seems that while once college was celebrated for creating riches for those who enrolled, the type of thinking and debt that college bestows upon one is making people become less individualized, and instead, part of a mass of people who are being left behind. 

A new article by the New York Times states that many individuals are now starting to say no to college.  Many of these individuals are becoming quite wealthy and living their life according to their own terms.  Instead of working through six years of education for a degree in which they can rely on other individuals for a paycheck and to be fed, they are starting their own businesses and going out on their own.

I often have questioned the point of educating oneself in order to maybe be good enough to land a job in which you can be someone's slave.  And that person is going to reap the rewards for your labor.  You will be a small percentage of it.  And that's if you are lucky.  You may not even get the job in the first place.  In fact, you may only have debt to show for it! 

What is the point of college?

While it is important to learn and open your mind, in today's modern world that can be done easily.  Travel is cheaper than ever before.  One can use the internet to find information on any subject.  Books and information is plentiful.  College has become a way for people to sell kids a product.  Textbooks are mass produced in a "one size fits all" form.  You are told that in order to learn something you have to read the book that the teacher assigns.  No longer do colleges give students free reign to research a subject on their own.  Now it's all about a textbook that may cost near $100 or more for.  And all that is paid for with student loans, creating a new indentured servitude class that will have to spend years and even decades paying it off.

Sadly, the parents of the current generation are still telling their children that college is the "golden ticket."   

"The idea that a college diploma is an all-but-mandatory ticket to a successful career is showing fissures. Feeling squeezed by a sagging job market and mounting student debt, a groundswell of university-age heretics are pledging allegiance to new groups like UnCollege, dedicated to “hacking” higher education. Inspired by billionaire role models, and empowered by online college courses, they consider themselves a D.I.Y. vanguard, committed to changing the perception of dropping out from a personal failure to a sensible option, at least for a certain breed of risk-embracing maverick."

Those who do not go to college are told that they will meet failure in today's modern society.  However, skills are now easier than ever to learn.  One can learn a programming language on their own or over the internet for free.  One can learn how to start a business without amassing huge amounts of debt through the internet and community programs that are often offered free of charge.

"Even the staunchest critics of college concede that a diploma is still necessary for many professions — law and medicine, clearly, and in many cases, for a Fortune 500 executive, too. But that’s the point: how many more lawyers and middle managers do we need?

“College is training for managerial work, and the economy doesn’t need that many managers,” said Michael Ellsberg, the author of “The Education of Millionaires: Everything You Won’t Learn In College About How to Be Successful.”"

 College is teaching many people to think a certain way.  A type of "group think" in which new and novel ideas are often seen as no-good or even threatening.  Throughout history a hallmark of the indentured class was that they all were taught to think alike. 

"“Here in Silicon Valley, it’s almost a badge of honor,” said Mick Hagen, 28, who dropped out of Princeton in 2006 and moved to San Francisco, where he started Undrip, a mobile app. He is now recruiting from the undergraduate ranks, he said, which is becoming a trend among other tech companies, too. In his view, dropouts are freethinkers, risk-takers. They have not been tainted by groupthink."

We have been told all our lives that in order to be successful and to have a good life we need to live a certain lifestyle.  College was an integral part to that life.  Other ingredients for a perfect life include getting married, buying a house, and having children.   If you do not do all of those things, many think that they have failed.  Yet, there is no reason why a person should feel compelled to do any of those things.

I have been conditioned, like many individuals, to see getting into the elite school as a mark of honor.  The ultimate goal in one's young life.  Many young people are force fed the idea that getting into an Ivy League school is the greatest achievement they can attain before adulthood.  They spend their youth trying to learn methods for beating the SATs and other standardized tests.  They are told that once they get into the Ivy League, their life will be perfect.  Many don't make it, and lament that forever.  Others get into the Ivy League and their reward is the chance to make another person richer with bouts of unemployment thrown in for good measure.

And there are those who think somewhat different than the masses.  Throughout history those who have thought different have received resistance, but in the end, history has shown them as trendsetters.  Many parents scoff at the idea of a child doing something so radical as not going to college or dropping out.  If a child goes to college, however, the parent is proud, proud that their child will one day be another puppet for society.  The child will become an adult, hopefully lucky enough to work towards a home and maintain a family, dodging unemployment and bankruptcy in order to maintain the material possessions that are thrust upon him/her via advertising and media.  As a student who was fed student loans and credit cards during college, he/she will battle a mountain of debt that maybe can be discharged in thirty years.  Yet the parents of this young person will fight tooth and nail to make sure the child goes along with what society has told him/her was the ideal life.

Many college graduates think that they are smarter than the rest of society due to a piece of paper that hangs on their wall.  They bought into the commercials and the media all their life.  Now they have the diploma and the debt to show for it.  Their 'reward' is perhaps psychological.  To think about the full implications of the time they spent in their youth, while others created something without amassing debt that can not be discharged in bankruptcy, is too much.

Consider the fact that entrepreneurial individuals can discharge their debt if their business does not work as planned, a business that has a possible upside of millions of dollars, and compare that to the fact that a person can not discharge a student loan, something that makes a person possibly good enough to work for the business creator.  Consider the fact that your degree will likely make it so that you must work for another individual for the rest of your life, until you can retire. 

College has taught me that their are winners and losers in life.  When put in a room with other people, some who obviously have a wealthy background, I have often felt that I was inadequate.  When graded on my performance I was reminded that sometimes risks are not worth taking.  However, the entrepreneur constantly tells him/herself that the risks are worth taking, because the individual is good enough to take risks.  Instead of telling themselves that a risk is too dangerous, or reminding one's self that they could fail, the entrepreneur realizes that the risk is an integral part to success.  The entrepreneur will take the risk.  Not going to college is seen to many as a risk.  Many won't take it.  And many who don't are not entrepreneurs.  If some of the intelligent people that succeeded and excelled in college would have went the other route, and used their creativity for themselves, they would have perhaps had great success.