UNT Dallas College of Law - Library Blog

Do Not Worry

If I can ace this class, my GPA will go up. If my GPA goes up, I can get a good clerkship and post-graduate job. If I get a good post-graduate job, I can [fill in the blank with your heart's desires]. 

Law school is stressful. Finals are stressful. And on top of that school-related stress, every law student has circumstances in their personal life that may cause more stress than the world's worst cold call.

What if someone told you that everything is going to be okay? That no matter the outcome of the next few weeks/months/years in law school, everything is going to be okay.

The fact is that you (yes, you) are more than your final grades. You are more than your GPA. You are more than your best job offer, your worst job offer, or your lack of job offers. You have a purpose here on earth, and your life has meaning regardless of what your transcript or resume says. 

One day, our earthly achievements won't matter. Grades, scholarships, income, and bar exam results won't matter. But you will always matter. People will always matter. 

We all have the honor of studying law. And how cool is that?! Every day we discuss topics like justice, mercy, and advocacy. As law students, we are learning how to help those in need and fight for people who can't fight for themselves. But the study and practice of law is not the sum of our existence.

Let's walk through a hypothetical (*gasp, no!*). It's okay, it's okay - not a legal hypothetical. Let's say that for every stressor you have in law school, the worst-case scenario happens. You set the bottom of the curve on your exams. You don't make it onto a mock trial team. You don't make it onto law review. You don't get a leadership position in your student organization. You don't get the clerkship you want. Or, for us 3Ls, you fail the bar exam.

None of those "failures" make you less valuable as a person. 

The inverse is also true. Let’s say that you achieve everything you want to in law school and get the post-graduate position that others dream of (*can I get a “whoop whoop”?*). That would be amazing, but those accomplishments would not make your life any more or less valuable than if you skimmed by, failed, or even had to take a break from law school.

That is because nothing can change the fact that you are inherently valuable. 

Your life has a greater meaning and purpose than being a law student. Understanding that your performance in law school (while important) only means so much can free up your mind to enjoy law school instead of it being an unhealthy source of stress.

Our lives are stressful. And oftentimes we get trapped into thinking that our performance in school or work corresponds to the value of our life. But that is not true.

Don't fall into that trap. Your value as a human being is immutable. It cannot be changed by anything. 💙

Now, let's move into the application section of our analysis. 

If you feel overcome by the stressors in your life, please don't face that alone. The Office of Student Affairs offers free counseling for students. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing Ms. Anita Ofori, MA, LPC, at anita.ofori@untdallas.edu. If you need immediate help, you can call the Suicide Hotline at (214) 828-1000 or (800) 273-8255. You can also call 911 or go to an emergency room. 

On a final note, please don't take away from this post that working hard or doing your best is not important. It is important! But, try to avoid the mistake of believing that your value is based on your performance. 

Thank you for your time, friends. Happy studying and I am cheering for you!

-Alee Corrales - Juris Doctorate Candidate, 2023