The first thing I will say is that 2HELL did not break me. If you read my previous “Fear” post, then you know I started this semester sad, stressed, and full of doubt…but GOD. My God and Black Jesus, showed up and showed out for me this semester.

My spring semester of 2L brought me classes that I loved. I remembered why I was in law school and I enjoyed it again. This semester I took Clinic, Sports Law, Jury Selection, Legal Ethics, and Judicial Opinion Writing. I loved all of my classes and even found somewhat of a balance in my crazy but fulfilling clinic. To top it all off, I got an A in the class that tried and tested me the most. My Juvenile and Family Law Clinic was a year long clinic and it was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I loved it, then hated it, loved it, then hated it, but through it all, I would not be the student and soon to be lawyer that I am today without that darn clinic. I learned how to trust my abilities to communicate with clients, how the courtroom works, how to be a great partner and co-counsel to my classmate, how to speak in court with control, confidence, and understanding, file court documents, maintain electronic and physical case files, prepare for trials, win a case, and kill it at a mock trial.

My clinic professor required growth from me. She did not give us the answers, but gave us the tools to find them on our own. Most of all, my professor pushed me to believe in myself and to be the best version of my future-attorney self. When my professor told us about the Mock Trial we had to prepare for, I was mortified! Yes, I want to be a litigator, but I still haven’t forgotten the horrifying Oral Argument I had 1L year. I shared these concerns with her, and she talked me down and encouraged me. I prepared, practiced and put my all into my Cross Examination, and ya girl gave off Analise Keeting vibes LOL. I DID that! Afterwards, the judge walked up to me and told me to keep going and that I was going to make a great litigator someday. The judge told me I’d done something she’d never even seen from attorneys. (So just know that if you get on the stand for my case, I got them receipts LOL).

I never want to take a clinic again, but I don’t know where I’d be without the experience. I cannot tell you how it felt to get an A in this class. Anyone who knows about law school clinics knows that it’s almost impossible to get an A in. But I am so thankful to have taken that course, even just a few weeks removed from the struggle of it all. In addition to getting an A in clinic, my GPA improved both 2L semesters, and this past spring I had the best academic semester of my law school career!! I don’t think grades are an accurate measuring factor of anything, but I can’t deny my happiness that my grades finally reflect the hard work I am putting into my law school classes.

My high points were not just academic this semester. I am more than halfway finished with law school, with only one year left! I got multiple job offers, mentored and helped out some incoming law students, made amazing new friends, and most of all, I found peace while in law school. I was happy and OKAY this semester. I don’t know what exactly turned around for me, but I do know that God gave me things to love about law school, and I started to worry about the negative outside factors less. I will continue to learn and grow, I will get the job of my dreams, I will pass the bar, and I will be a great attorney someday!

I pray this state of mind is permanent. I pray that I never let something as minuscule as school (in the grand scheme of my life) break me again. Thank you all so much for your support and thanks for reading my update! I am ready to be “bored to death” in 3L, because 2L sure did “work me to death” LOL. Thank you MOM & AISHA for literally everything. You two are everything, everything. Finally, Goodbye 2HELL. It’s been real.

love, bria