Quick aside

We have begun to receive our grades from last semester at school. Once again, the grade I am most proud of was for a class I barely understood. The course I excelled in throughout the semester, I got a horrible grade. So I'm taking a moment to vent. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, but clearly, either the system does not reflect our skill, or everything I know about essay writing is wrong.

Either way, I hope employers are able to see through the lie that is my transcript. This summer and my seven years as a journalist have proved that I am not only professionally competent, but a quick learner and a strong asset to any team that I work with. So I've decided not to let grades bother me any more. I hereby vow to:

1. Continue working myself to exhaustion
2. Ignore my grades
3. Pursue my desires regardless of whether my transcript reflects my interests

I have a very clear purpose for entering the legal profession. I intend to follow it. Somehow, there will be a way.

Updates

I have to write briefly, as we're really down to the wire at school:

• Passport: Not valid, after all. Must reapply. BLARGH!


• Visa: Can't apply until passport situation is fixed.


• Housing: Still trying to find. Probably won't get that cute little house in Kisaasi. Owner wants 6 months' rent. Boo! Hotels are much more expensive, but at least they come with utilities and furnishings.


• Money: Running out. When do the scholarship funds come in?


• Projects: Still working on them!
  
  
  • Uganda project turned in. I was late, but at least it's done. Lots of revisions in mind for the class syllabi I plotted out, but I'll make fixes when my own classes are over.
  
  
  • Sudan project in the works. Will have to write it up DURING the writing competition. Good thing I'm only giving a preliminary report. Am considering applying for a Fulbright on this subject, and will definitely write a journal comment on the land use issue, whether for Penn or someone else.
  
  
• Home Life: Tenant moving out. Must find new roommate. During finals.


• Finals: At least I started studying earlier, this semester.


• Dog: Peeing on floor, mysteriously. Vet says he's depressed. Took him to parents in California, where he would have had to stay for the summer anyway, so he can get some time exercise in the back yard. I could use extra exercise, myself.


• Sanity: Good thing I never had it to begin with ...

Quick note

I might not be able to post much over the next month. Finals are looming; I have a lot of studying to do if I am going to prove my merit in public international and criminal law. (Am a tad bit anxious about this, wish me luck!) Anyway, I definitely have more to write about culture, gender, and what a friend of mine used to call "cosmic hubris," but it will have to wait for another week.

'Til then, take care!

Exciting news!

Penn Law's International Human Rights Advocates have accepted my application. I'm going to be the Director for Clinical Groups for the 2008-2009 academic year! This is very exciting, because I should be able to continue our partnership with Gulu, or maybe start a project on Sudan.

But it gets better! Emily Torstveit is going to be student group coordinator and Nanda Srikantaiah is going to be the 2L director. These women have become good friends, and I have every confidence that their energy and abilities will make IHRA's next year amazing. Kyle Dandelet will be the next spring break coordinator. I just met him yesterday, and he seems like a very competent and outstanding person.

So hooray for next year! Incidentally, I just realized that I haven't posted much about the law school yet. It's a beautiful campus. You can take a virtual tour online.