Lessons I’ve learned from school.

Butterfly fly away you’ve been waiting for this day, all along and you just know what to do make your dreams come true…

Today was my first day for my second semester in school. It was fun to see my friends but it was also a bit vexing because some of the professors started the lesson right away. But this wasn’t really why this day is so important to me…it was important because this is also the day I get my grades for my first semester in school. It’s really hard to be working full time and studying at the same time. So this will be the proof if I atleast have what it takes to stay in school. Yes I got good grades, better than I expected actually. It was thrilling that all my hardwork has paid off. All those all nighters I pulled off feel so insignificant now. I feel so proud of myself… being able to get myself to school and being able to support myself in my endeavors and in my dreams. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned in school and in achieving my dream.

1. There are no shortcuts to any place worth going to.

There are no shortcuts… plain and simple. All things that are worth it are worth a fight. In law school, the most important thing besides graduating is retention of knowledge. What you learned throughout your stay in school should be absorbed and retained because the moment you graduate you have lesser time to go back to all your past lessons in preparation for the bar exam. Same is true for each final exam you encounter. You won’t have enough time to go back to all your lessons if your exam is from cover to cover. Each day, you work hard, study long hours because retaining what you learned is no easy feat and there are no shortcuts if you want retention of knowledge, especially given the time constraint. You will never experience the sweet taste of success without the bitter hint of hardship. The most momentous opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” ― Haruki Murakami

2. Don’t act like you know everything.

As my professor said… “I don’t give a damn about your opinion… your opinion does not matter… I only need to know the basis of your answer.” Know what you need to know to be able to answer correctly and precisely. You need knowledge first before putting it to use. It just makes school more unbearable by being near a know-it-all.  It is better to be certain… never assume.  Some say that know-it-alls actually know less. Nobody likes arrogance. In addition to this, by acting like someone who knows everything, you will have lesser chance of gaining knowledge.

3.  Learn when to shut up.

You’re in the class, concentrating really hard before an exam then you suddenly hear someone yapping really loudly and you just want to smack their face with a book.  Well… it sucks. Some people have no courtesy for others and don’t know when to stay quiet.  It’s even more annoying when they keep on talking before an important exam when you’re collecting your thoughts or in the study area when you’re trying to memorize. When you don’t know whether you are wrong or right, I think silence is the best answer. Never miss a good chance to shut up. Even in silence you can learn. When to stay silent? Ironclad rule: do not volunteer if you think you have too much already… just keep quiet. In imposing authority, silence can also be used, for nothing speaks greater than silence. Make them think on their own thinking the same as what you are thinking in that moment of silence.

“I don’t think…” then you shouldn’t talk, said the Hatter.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

4.  Learn to listen.

Learn to listen to someone’s argument though it may go against yours. Accept that you aren’t always right. Before you can absorb any knowledge you should learn to listen. When someone’s talking, listen… do not butt in and just wait patiently for your turn. Listen carefully as you may give a non-responsive answer because you have assumed instantly on what the person wants to ask instead of listening intently or having them finish the question. Do not listen just by ear, but try registering it in your brain and in your heart. So many words get lost and their essence lose their meaning.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen Covey

5. Just because you asked it doesn’t mean you are going to get an answer.

Find it for yourself and believe that you have the ability to find it. You may arrive at a different answer. But it doesn’t mean you should stop asking questions.  Self-suffiency is important most especially if you’re fighting a hard battle. As Socrates ones said… “To find yourself, think for yourself.”

“In yourself right now is all the place you’ve got.” ― Flannery O’Connor, Wise Blood

6. Stop whining.

Don’t even think for a second you’re the only one who has it rough. Don’t think you have it harder than everyone else, some have experienced hardships in their own way. Whining for me is a big sign of disrespect for what others are also going through. Whining are only for people with mediocre minds, who belittles their very own great spirit which they in turn become violent oppositions to others of great spirit. Honestly we all have the right to complain when life gets hard, but try to do something about it, be a winner not a whiner. Complaining never worked as a strategy.

“Your complaints, your drama, your victim mentality, your whining, your blaming, and all of your excuses have NEVER gotten you even a single step closer to your goals or dreams. Let go of your nonsense. Let go of the delusion that you DESERVE better and go EARN it! Today is a new day!” – Steve Marabolli

7. Always bring a pen and paper with you.

No matter where you are, you are able to jot down ideas or things you need that just came to mind, or lectures… Phones are not always useful, plus their batteries run out. They do say that to hold a pen is to be at war. Life is battle one must strive to win. So at least hold a pen… wield that sword.:)

8. Be nice.

Sometimes you find it hard to be nice to people you just don’t like. Be nice. You’ll never know when you’ll need their help. Always help out if you can, there will come a time that the situation might be reversed. It’ll pay off. They say that you should be nice to people on your way up for you will meet them on your way down. I’ve seen this a lot of times in the company where I am working.

I found this funny quote from Will Rogers- “Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.”

If you can’t be nice at least be respectful or cordial.

9. Be present

Yes, present in all sense, not only in attendance during roll calls but also have a present state of mind. Try your best to learn everything you can, try not to daydream too much or better, if not at all especially in class or at important meetings. When you take that first step towards your dream or goal, there will be a lot of work, pressure and changes in your environment. The change is so drastic that you would go back to make things normal again, so you tend to slack off or go back to the way it was before. Try to remember why you dreamed at first and understand that change is necessary to be able to realize your dream. The past for you holds little reality…by being present you put things under your control.

10. If your dream doesn’t scare you then your dream isn’t big enough.

You can do great things. Believe in that. Though you think you may be a walking delusional person who believes too much of himself, be the person who fights hard, one who will make that delusion into the truth. But do not mistake arrogance for greatness. You may think that you’ll look foolish for having such a big dream, but only foolish people have the possibility of being great. Some may call it foolishness but I call it strength and courage. Others may laugh at you, or discourage you, don’t let them break you for a great dream can only be achieved through determination.

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• Listening check-up for first-semester law students (listenlikealawyer.com)