OFF TRACK - Ugh!

I have fallen and I am not sure that I want help getting up. This has been a very difficult time to study. I have had tons of work to do at work, Christmas shopping, family difficulties and a horrible cold to boot. This is crazy. I keep trying to figure out how I am going to be able to study without falling asleep. I have decided to try again starting 12/26 because anything before then will not be retained. Stay tuned. . .

On-track for Now.

Success!!! I am happy to report that I was able to review Con-Law for 2 days, complete 25 MBE questions and review at least 20 pages of the Adachi book. I was also able to start Torts. I must admit that I did falter just a bit because I was supposed to be done with 50 mbe's for Conlaw and just got to tired to even focus. Oh well, i will not beat myself for this I will just continue to push forward.

I am so happy because I was able to score 72% on my first set of MBE's after not looking at the stuff for 5-6 months. I know that this is not a huge accomplishment but it helps me to think that I have a chance. Torts is my next challenge, so I need to finish dinner and get started.

CHARGE!!!

Study Calendar Anyone??

I have really been reluctant to make my study calendar. I have tried to just poke and stab at studying for the past few weeks. However, this morning I knew that I would need to create a study plan in order to get into the correct study mode. I think that subconsciously I knew that a calender would make the Bar a lot more real than I wanted it to be right now. But I have decided to make the darn calendar and attempt to stick to it.

As directed by most people and the commercial bar prep courses, I will start with the MBE subjects first and work my way to the California subjects. I have decided that I will only do about 25 MBEs per day during the first week or two because I always get burned out if I do too many at one. I have also decided to try to write at least one essay every 2 days for the first month and then gage my progress to see if I need to do more. Last but not least, I will start working on the performance exams by mid January.

I know that this sounds like a hefty load but I think that it will be okay. If it isn't I will just fine tune it until I know that it is working for me. SO, now I am off to study Con law and we will see what the day brings. I have tried to study to Christmas Music but I don't think that this will work because it makes me want to participate in Christmas festivities.

Still Not Motivated

You would think that 4 previous unsuccessful bar attempts would be motivation enough... but it isn't. This is crazy. I have tried studying business associations at 5:30 am and I have tried to study it at night and I just can't seem to get into it. So, maybe I should try another subject. My first essay is due on 12/26 so I need to get my behind in gear. I heard someone say something the other day about only committing your safe one day at a time. I think that I will try to apply this to bar study. So, tonight I am committed to reviewing Constitutional Law and I will do that.

Inviting the Bar Monster??

I was supposed to begin my CA bar study routine this past Monday. SURPRISE... I did not start. I have just started this wonderful new job that is within walking distance from my home and I am loving it. I am so glad that I don't have to drive 1,000 miles to get to work but I am wondering if that is a good thing. I am so used to living a super crazy schedule that I tend to slack off when I have more than 5 minutes to spare. I can't seem to find the focus or drive to start my study session.

Hence, the invitation to the "Bar Monster." If the "Bar Monster" comes then I will be mean but I will be motivated. SO I think that in order to jump start this wonderful bar study party off right, I will need to become the dreaded "Bar Monster." WARNING WARNING, this transformation may produce some pretty crabby and whiny blogs.

Until next time... Happy Studying

What A Ride!!

Well, I'm baaaack and I have good news... I PASSED THE NJ AND NY BAR EXAMS. I am so excited. I can't believe that it has been almost 5 months since my last entry, so much has happened. My bar studies seemed to get much worse before they got better. So, I decided to rebel against the bar and my blog. I know, I know this makes absolutely no sense, but at the time the Bar Monster told me that it was a good idea.

Every thing that could go wrong during the NY and NJ bar exams did. First, my 30 minute layover in Las Vegas turned into a 3 hour wait on the way to PA. Next, we got lost on our way to NY (Long Island for the exam) and instead of it taking 3-4 hours to get from PA to NY it took 6-8 hours. Then there was a tech support issue in NY which delayed the bar exam by 2+ hours. Just when I thought that it would get better the lights flickered off and on during the MBE. Being ever so happy to get to NJ, I arrived to a gross hotel room at a hotel with no other vacancies. And the topping on the cake was a 3 hour wait to start the NJ bar while awaiting the arrival of the 3 technicians that were used in NY two days before. You probably think that this was the end but it wasn't. The perfect end to my east coast trip came when I was delayed 3-4 hours in NJ airport (after we found it) on my way home.

However, by the grace of GOD, I PASSED. Some say that all of the distractions kept me from stressing out about the actual exam. I don't know, but what I do know is that I had a lot of love, support, prayers and encouragement. For example, my sister and one of my friends took me to see the Color Purple the Sunday before the exam. They also "inadvertently" interrupted my studying by luring me away from the books with mac and cheese and late night movies. They also made sure that I had plenty of food, stress free driving and plenty of breaks. This is different than what I have done for the CA bar in that, I did not study up until the very last second.

So now, I have decided to take another stab at the CA bar exam and I hope to be able to share the experience through this blog. I really believe that passing the other two exams will help me to regain the confidence that I once had before the CA BAR MONSTER. Please stay tuned, if nothing else you will be entertained by this wonderful process.

Committed to Success

I woke up this morning and renewed my commitment to passing the NJ and NY bar exams today. I asked my husband to help me to review HS and Non-HS rules for evidence and I was able to kill two birds with one stone. First I was able to harass my husband and second I was able to review the area of evidence that is kicking my butt on the MBE. I also received news that I will be able to use my laptop for the NJ bar exam, so I won the lottery. I am hoping to hear good news from NY soon.
Overall, as of 10 am I was committed to making sure that this was a productive study day. However, similar to other times that I have made this commitment, distractions are ever present. Soon after my 10 o'clock proclamation, I received a call from my 17 year old stating that he is sick and should be picked up immediately because they aren't really doing anything and he needs to complete his project. As distracting as this is, I am not going to allow it to throw me off track, I will give him some aspirin and study while I supervise the project. We shall see if this plan will work for me.