If You're Going to Have a Meltdown, Part II

Everyone has a mini-meltdown sometime during their law school experience. Bad hair day and no caffeine. Bad day in Torts. Being called on while unprepared in Criminal Law. Accidently start up laptop - or cell phone - in class blasting the 1812 Oveture and can't get it to stop. Really bad exam results in Civ Pro.

These things can cause minor meltdowns - or even major ones - and you're entitled to have a few. This is life while you go through law school.

Do yourself a favor... if you're going to have a meltdown, don't do it in front of your family and friends, unless they've been to law school. If you must have one, limit it to one or two major ones a year.

As much as your family says they understand, they really don't and will look at you like you're a freak. They'll start looking for the number to the local mental health facility to check you in. Then they'll start to panic thinking that you're planning on dropping out of school after the family's sacrificed so much time, effort, and money to get you where you are.

Just ask my husband. I had one the other day when I had just finished an exam after little sleep the night before and was trying to get the kitchen facuet fixed.

Each time I have a mini-meltdown - or the occasional major one - afterwards I have to reassure him that I'm not dropping out, I'm just going through a rough patch, I've just had a bad day, experience, whatever.

I know he loves me and supports me. But he doesn't always understand the strain that law school can have on me, regardless of whether or not I work full time.

On the plus side, I spared the other law students at school from having a meltdown in front of them. They have enough to shoulder without piling my stress on top of theirs.