Orientation - Day 1

The beginning of school for law students is not one of rest upon the temperpedic mattresses of the future; no, as a child is thrown into the water to learn to swim, our start is marked with no soft and cuddly mattress- the start is as cold as concrete after a snow storm. Life will be rough.

"Bright" and "early" were two words that could describe the detriment that was my wake up this morning. Orientation was to begin at 9:00 AM. I would meet 300 of my peers and be the object of the affection of the staff and faculty who represent a school that is receiving upwards of $35,000 from each seat that would be filled. Needless to say, I quickly grew tired of the barrage of repetitive sentiment. However,I digress.

It rained hard. All day. I maintain my stance that a person should not live in a place where it rains during the summer.

The pouring rain outside was a sign from above that I would not be impressed by the spectacle of orientation. This event should excite and instill a certain degree of readiness in those attending. Today was far short of these expectations. The question and answer sessions were action-packed with persons vying for the attention of those presenting in the attempt to be recognized. These attempts are not only futile, but could have more easily achieved the opposite--a detriment to themselves-- all on my time. I have witnessed less-than-brilliant persons ask even less-brilliant questions in the past, but today will be placed in the all-time top-ten.

I am also amazed at the need to present financial aid in a forum during orientation. We are sitting pretty, less than 6 days from the first day of classes, and people still need to learn about financial aid. Quite frankly, if people do not know or have financial aid at this point, not only are they severely behind, but they have the duty to take care of it on their own time.

The day ended around 5:30 in the evening, at which time my roommate and I carpooled home and began school work. I have finished my first assignment on case-briefing and am most of the way through my first reading assignment for Contract Law, which I am finding surprisingly intriguing. Perhaps law school will be filled with my attention and seeking for more knowledge.

New York is not growing on me; I am, however warming to the house in which I am living and the parkways that are lined with trees creating a forest-like facade that I have grown to love.

My house has two stories and is built on the Seaford channel. We have a large dock in the back where geese, ducks, seagulls and the occasional swan frequent. The neighborhood is very quiet and the neighbors are friendly. The Nassau County Police have a station at the end of the street, and the Fire Department have a station at the end of the block. My roommate, Lindsay, brought her dog with her (Marley) who is as nice to have around as she is small (Lenny would eat him).

But, back to law school. I am not filled with the pride I had during undergrad. Hofstra is no University of Southern California. I am not yet proud to say I attend law school at Hofstra. I feel the need to follow my statements of attendance to this school with the fact that I am attending with a full scholarship, as if that makes all reasoning for enrollment balanced. Perhaps I put too much in a name.

Tomorrow is another day of orientation, though not as long as what we experienced today.

May your thoughts be with me. I will take your luck, too.