b'able to help you with. Also, if you have had a IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHATbad or unhelpful experience with a counsellor, WOULD YOU TELL YOUR FIRST-YEAR SELF? resist the temptation to write off those services in the future. Sometimes it takes a few If only I could go back and tell my younger selfattempts to find a professional who suits your to put down the bottle of No-Doz tablets andpersonality and needs.try to live a more balanced life!My first six months of university were by farHOW DOES ONE MAINTAIN A BALANCED my most challenging. I was obsessed withLIFESTYLE THROUGHOUT A LAW DEGREE?the idea that, because I had taken a gap year, I had forgotten how to study and all theThis is easier said than done. Ultimately you other students would be at an advantage.are the one who controls how much time you Idecided that I would just focus on study, notdevote to certain activities, including study.do any part time work and not sign up to anyI didnt follow a strict timetable of activities extracurricular activities so that I would havewhen I was at university, but I did have a even more time to study. rough idea of which times I would like to Needless to say, I was miserable. Because studystudy and which times I would be working was the only thing going on in my life, I putorvolunteering.way too much reliance on my marks as a wayIt is useful to keep in mind that more hours to obtain happiness, which meant that I feltof study do not necessarily equate to better good when I received a good mark, but horriblemarks, particularly if your study is ineffective. when I received a mark that did not meet myItis easier to feel motivated and optimistic expectations. Through many years of trial andwhen you are in a positive mindset, and this error I have come to realise that my academicusually is obtained through maintaining results are the best when I am happy, and I ambalance and living a healthy life.happy when I have been exercising, eating well, and seeing family andfriends. Trying to balance work with a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing battle, so students shouldnt HOW CAN STUDENTS UTILISE THEIRfeel bad if they go through periods where the SUPPORT NETWORKS THROUGHOUT THEIRbalance is totally off kilter.DEGREE AND HOW CAN THEY CREATE NEW ONES AT LAW SCHOOL? WHAT ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO In my view it is good to have supportKEEP IN MIND IF YOU RECEIVE A networks both inside (friends from class orDISAPPOINTINGRESULT?university societies) and outside (friends fromIt can feel devastating to receive a poor result, school or work etc and family) of law school.especially if you have put in a lot of effort and Thesesupport networks can be of assistancetried really hard to do well. In the scheme of life indifferent ways. we all know that a single mark does not make Outside support networks keep us sanea difference to what we want to do with our and grounded. They are separate to the lawfuture, but that is little comfort in the ensuing school bubble and help us to escape, even ifdays or weeks.momentarily, from the worries and concernsThe most important thing to keep in mind is ofbeing a law student. that you can use your experience as a way to Inside support networks are also helpfulimprove for the future. It takes courage to look because they understand completely thecritically at your own work, to acknowledge law school experience and can be a source ofnegative feedback and to change the way you motivation. Forming study groups and sharingstudy and write, rather than simply burying a notes can also make exam time lessstressful.bad mark in the bottom of your bag. Dont feel afraid to ask your lecturer or tutor for further Students should also never feel afraid oradvice (the worst that can happen is that they embarrassed to access counselling andsay no, or ignore your request). Dont give up, psychological services at university. There areand keep at itlaw school is a marathon, not some things that only a professional will bea sprint. PAGE 21'