caffademic - Tumblr blog

[caffademic]

do I bring this bad boy back to scream into the void of the legal profession

[caffademic]

I can’t believe I’m typing this, but I passed the bar!! The hell of law school is truly over. It was almost all worth it.

I’m a baby lawyer!

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Alright I’m back. 3L has kicked my butt. I’m fully online, along with the other 2L and 3L students, and I have almost no motivation to get my work done. MPRE is in two weeks, I haven’t read for class since early September, and I still don’t have a job. BUT it’s not all bad. I’ve had a few interviews and only have one final this semester. It’s probably time for at 3L 100 Days of Productivity Challenge - will begin tomorrow 

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After 1L, I left my tumblr alone with limited interaction. I’m posting again because I need to say to my 900 or so followers to say that Black Lives Matter.

To my Black followers, especially Black law students or lawyers, I know you’re hurting.

I’m working on a resource guide with my school’s SBA. I probably won’t post it because it’s school specific and I’ve kept my identity largely secret, but to the allies following me - let’s keep working to educate ourselves and uplift the voices of our Black peers.

[caffademic]

environmental racism isn't a thing. God how can people be so stupid. Plants don't have fucking opinions.

I’m … legitimately blown away that you think environmental racism is about the marginalization of plants.

[caffademic]

All of these pictures are so beautiful 😍

pedagogy notes

instagram / delicatestudys

[caffademic]

Hello, lovelies! I’ve gotten a couple of asks about studying so I decided to condense them into one post for you guys! I’m trying to hit a bunch of different topics so if you need an even more specific post you can send an ask! Without any further ado, have some tips! My studyblr is @spacey-scholar​

Prep

First, you always need a good base for your day! Especially if you’re studying a lot.

Make a good full breakfast! Ex. Eggs and Toast, Smoothie and fruit, Pancakes and a cup of juice. 

How’s your hygiene? Do you need to shower, brush your teeth, wash your face, condition your hair? Do it! You’ll be distracted if you feel messy!

Get dressed like it’s a normal day. Staying in PJ’s is okay! But being ready for the day seriously helps focus!

Likewise, your space should be clean. A clean space is a clean mind! Remove dishes, trash, scrap paper, and extra items. Wide down your desk, organize your pens and books. Your space should feel like your space!

Now make a list of what you need to get done! What needs to be done Now, what needs to be done Soon, and what needs to be done Later? 

Order your list how you want your day to go, and don’t put super-tough subjects back to back, or subjects that are similar exercises i.e. reading thirty pages of two different books back to back is no fun.

The Studying

It’s important to buckle down with No Distractions! If you find yourself distracted put your phone away! If you need your phone, put it on Do Not Disturb until you’re done. I also do this at night for better sleep. 

Pick the best technique for you, Pomodoro, reward-based, group studying, etc.

Play music but only if it will not distract you! If you sing along or daydream it’s the wrong music! Classical, Lo-fi, and White noise are all good! My Spotify Here has some good ones.

Use a nice journal (I don’t mean expensive!) and pens/pencils you enjoy using. I like to have a specific journal and color dedicated to each subject. 

Take notes on recorded lectures and classes, if you’re doing online classes right now try to screen record or record the audio! That way if you space out you can play it later and take notes, and you can absorb the lesson better instead of being distracted.

Don’t worry about your notes, stationary, pictures, being beautiful and your grades being perfect. Life doesn’t always look the way it does on Instagram. And the people who spend hours trying to get a good photo of their coffee are not studying! 

Use flashcards! Quizlet is good if you need premade ones! If you can save up and buy them, Barrons AP Flash Cards are the best in my opinion. Very clean, not too long, very durable, and cover all subjects.

Feeling Distracted 

If you catch yourself drifting off and getting into your head, get up and take a quick walk, stretch, or energizer. 

It’s okay if this happens, don’t guilt yourself! practice affirmation. The best and smartest still get distracted. 

If you are drifting, why? Are you hungry? Tired? Thirsty? Bored? Get a snack and some water, take a break and rest, find a way to make your studying more enjoyable. 

Remember that Motivation and Discipline are different things. Sometimes we just won’t be motivated, we won’t want to do it and it will be rather frustrating. But the cure to this is not shaming its discipline. Remind yourself “This may be hard, and I may not want to do this, but I want to reach my goals and If this is what It takes I will make it happen. 

Always do just one more page of you’re tired. One at a time and oh you did it! Maybe just one more? One more? Eh, one more just to finish the train of thought, Oh just- I’m done? Nice!

If you really can’t focus just move on and come back to this subject, you can always ask for help.

Supplementary Things

There are so many apps you can use to study, for free! My favorites are Tide, Quizlet, Focus Keeper, Forest, Flora, Egenda, SpanishDict, Photomath, and Kahn Academy. 

You can also join a study group! You may know one, but if you don’t, there are a lot of online ones! I’m in a study Discord and have been for a while! it helps a lot and motivates me to finish my work!

You can make a studyblr, but don’t do it just for the aesthetics! It’s about studying, and sometimes that gets messy! Sometimes we fail a test, we spill our tea on our notes, we cry because we don’t understand the formula. That’s the part you don’t see!

Having cute stationery can really help, as well as nice organizers and decorations for your space! I don’t have much money so I get a lot of stuff on Amazon or FB Marketplace.

Health

Remember that no matter what you are good enough. It’s okay if you fail, it’s okay if you struggle.

It’s also okay if your path doesn’t go the way you expected! Maybe you go to a different school than expected! Or choose a trade instead! Maybe you take a gap year! Maybe your passion changes! Maybe it changes six times!

Your health is always more important than your school. If you are in pain, mentally or physically, if you are anxious, exhausted, burnt out, talk to your teachers about it! You matter more than a grade.

Your best is good enough! And your best doesn’t look the same as someone else’s best! Don’t compare!

Now go get out there and study!

[caffademic]

2020 is off to a rocky start, but I need to remember the good things:

I have my summer internship lined up at my dream place in my dream city.

I have acquired housing that is affordable and hella close to everything in said dream city.

I’m on my school’s most competitive moot court team.

I’m still with my partner (4 whole years!!), and he’s my best friend.

I’ve spent more time with more friends from law school this year - I’ve expanded my circle and I’m so happy :)

I have my health on track, even though winter always puts me in a mood ™

I’m staying grateful, humble, and happy this year. It’s the year to help others and refuse to bring harm into the world.

[caffademic]

26/100 - 19.01.2020

•

Had a lighter day today - looked at a few example kinematics questions and started a book my music teacher lent me over the holidays as it’s supposed to be helpful on tackling performance anxiety!

♫ - Take Care, Pt. 1 (The Night Café)

[caffademic]

✨studying for pleasure is the best ✨

🌊

I relaxed all day after a full weekend, and in the afternoon I had this huge need to read something. So I studied a bit of this new book I got online- ABC Urology. It’s super short and to the point. I enjoy having it a starting point for further readings. It’s only 16 chapters and I plan on finishing it this week. I dedicate it one whole week because I want to read some articles in paralel and I dont need to rush myself.

🐚

The other pic is a closeup of a seashell from a nice warm afternoon I visited the beach and took photos of the sea. I will miss the sea so much.

[caffademic]

8 hours of studying, 2 coffees, 2 sandwiches and so much biochemistry & immunology later, i can at least safely say today was productive (and binge a new netflix show). still can’t get over how pretty this library is.

ig: softlyshade

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it’s been winter break, so when i get back next week you might be seeing some more posts from me!

for now, have some of what i’ve been reading & a fantastic star chat i found!

[caffademic]

2/100 ✨

Started my 100 days of productivity yesterday, and already finished four chapters in book one out of seven for this semester. Starting on chapter five and six today and see how far I can go 🙏🏼

[caffademic]

This is so real. Average is not bad! Average is average!

I just got my first semester law school grades back and I’m just above average, and feeling real mediocre. Any advice?

Why? Did you think you were above average? Did you think in a school full of people who had just about the same GPA in college and the same LSAT score, something about you was guaranteed to put you at the top?

I don't mean to be mean (I was tempted to throw a "boohoo you're above average" comment for the likes and call it a day) but you have to realize that in law school, the difference between an A and a B isn't as large as it may be in college. Sometimes it's like 4 points on a 400 point scale. Law school grades are hard to predict, especially your 1L year, first semester. Don't beat yourself up. This is something to celebrate!

[caffademic]

Litigation revision - only 5 days to go now

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08.01.2020 ✨ I know exams are coming up and nobody have time to take breaks but breaks are as important as studying itself. But why is it so important to take a break? Taking a break is essential to higher productivity, energy and concentration! For me, I don’t plan my study routine, instead I plan my breaks! I always plan my meal breaks, so I know what time I will eat. Keep in mind food = fuel for you body and brain! 🤗 For me I like to study 90 min and take after 30 mins off. (You don’t need the same - find your perfect study time!) Second, I only do work/study related things between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm, but it doesn’t mean I study the whole time! What this means, I never work/study after 7:30 pm! I set an alarm when I need to finish work and take a brain break! Your brain needs a rest! We run around, go to class, study/work all day and you brain is working all the time. On top of our long days we sit down and work even harder! What I like to share with you: When your plan your study routine, schedule regular breaks between your blocks and classes and also in the evenings! Take 20-30 min and never never never work trough these scheduled breaks! Our brain needs a rest in order to work and be productive! Also, don’t put yourself down because you took a break! We all take breaks and we all need breaks 💖 ig: andotherlawstories

[caffademic]