graduation: the prelude
today i participated in the public interest and social justice law celebration and graduation ceremony at my degree-conferring institution (have i slipped up and named it yet?). it was a short, pleasant ceremony that recognized the hard work and dedication of the portion of the student body that focused their coursework on more socially-minded, public service work.
i received two awards, the public interest and social justice law scholar certificate, for demonstrating an academic interest in public service and the pro bono recognition award, for volunteering some of my time this year to help our community. it was my third year receiving the pro bono plaque, and my third year attending the pisj graduation. i went because the ceremony, in my opinion, is a small, intimate gathering of students and professors who think a law degree should be more than a piece of paper that paves the way for membership into the bmw owners' circle. it's a place to come together with a lot of folks who belive that lawyers can be instruments of positive change in the world.
the ceremony was enjoyable enough, but i particularly enjoy the mingling afterwards. i got to meet the families of good friends of mine, get to know some of the faculty and administration a little better (especially the guy who works in career services with third-year students and recent grads).
the question i'm just starting to get sick of, already, is the inevitable "so what are you doing after graduation?" "nothing, yet." is my stock answer right now. it's such an unsatisfying answer. i have a lot of ideas, but no job. i have a lot of friends who would probably take my call and at least try and put me in front of someone who's hiring, but i'm still trying to figure out a plan, a path, something to get me to where i can have a real impact on policy in a relatively short period of time without being financially crippled by my loans.
i'm intentionally delaying all career plan-making until after i go through the bar experience. i'll post details soon on my preparation steps for the exam. first, i graduate.
i received two awards, the public interest and social justice law scholar certificate, for demonstrating an academic interest in public service and the pro bono recognition award, for volunteering some of my time this year to help our community. it was my third year receiving the pro bono plaque, and my third year attending the pisj graduation. i went because the ceremony, in my opinion, is a small, intimate gathering of students and professors who think a law degree should be more than a piece of paper that paves the way for membership into the bmw owners' circle. it's a place to come together with a lot of folks who belive that lawyers can be instruments of positive change in the world.
the ceremony was enjoyable enough, but i particularly enjoy the mingling afterwards. i got to meet the families of good friends of mine, get to know some of the faculty and administration a little better (especially the guy who works in career services with third-year students and recent grads).
the question i'm just starting to get sick of, already, is the inevitable "so what are you doing after graduation?" "nothing, yet." is my stock answer right now. it's such an unsatisfying answer. i have a lot of ideas, but no job. i have a lot of friends who would probably take my call and at least try and put me in front of someone who's hiring, but i'm still trying to figure out a plan, a path, something to get me to where i can have a real impact on policy in a relatively short period of time without being financially crippled by my loans.
i'm intentionally delaying all career plan-making until after i go through the bar experience. i'll post details soon on my preparation steps for the exam. first, i graduate.
posted by tobin at 5/19/2006 01:08:00 AM
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