How I ended up in law school.

Time flies. I can't believe that my seventh semester would start in a month's time. I should have been in my final year in law school had I not distributed my second and third year subjects to help me cope with my demanding schedule as a working student. No regrets though. At least I get to enjoy every minute of it (insert sarcasm here). But notwithstanding such delay, I am still happy with the fact that in two years (hopefully), my hard work will soon pay off. 

Becoming a lawyer someday wasn't really my plan. As a child, I was timid and shy. I don't excel in school. My only goal was to become famous (haha). A friend of dad even once said that she remember mom telling her that I wanted to become an artist (yes, an artista) when I grow up. 

My parents used my love for theater and music to their advantage. They have enrolled me in theater workshops to help boost my confidence. It helped me. A LOT. Soon enough, I was no longer that timid. I even directed various plays which featured my neighbors. 

As such, in my final year in High School, Mass Communication/Communication Arts became the obvious choice for my course in College. I was bad in Math. I was bad in Science. The only subjects I used to enjoy (and excel in) were History and Speech. But somehow, these courses were deleted from my college application forms. Thus, I ended up in Asian Studies. 

I chose Asian Studies for three reasons: (1) I love history, (2) I want to travel and (3) To facilitate easy entry into the University of Santo Tomas. I enjoyed most of my subjects, to some extent. But looking back, I realized that during those years, I got better grades in my subjects that are related to law than to those which I am majoring in. But at this point, I have given up my dreams of becoming an artist. Instead, my dreams were set on becoming a flight attendant so that I could travel more. You see, my mother used to work for Northwest Airlines. It was one of her benefits (and later on, part of her Early Retirement Package) that we get to ride NWA for free. These benefits were supposed to end as soon as I graduate from college. Since I have been travelling since I was a little girl, I never wanted such experience to end. Obviously, I wanted to become a flight attendant to enjoy the same privileges. It was also before my final year in college that mom's friend promised that she can get me a job with Star Cruises. 

Unfortunately, the job market back then was terrible -- most especially the Airline Industry. Thus, most of our professors advised that we pursue graduate studies to make the most of our time in the event that job hunting becomes futile. Given the fact that I have majored in Asian Studies in College, the obvious choice would be to pursue a Master's Degree therein. But alas, I find the subject very boring. 

Hence, career consultant advised that I take up law. Entrance examinations in UP Law were already closed that time. Knowing that I would also end up paying for my tuition, I never took examinations in Ateneo Law. So it was San Beda or nothing. I took my chances. Unprepared, I took the entrance exam with two friends, with no back up plan in case I fail the same. 

I passed. And thus marked the start of a long and arduous journey in law school. 

I never thought I'd end up here. I used to tell my family and friends that I want a job that would not entail the use of my brain. And yet, here I am, in law school. 

But despite and in spite of everything, I am happy to be here. Since 2009, and most especially today, I have decided to let go of my childhood dreams, focusing on what is truly important: to become a lawyer.