DAYEdalera

“Patience is a virtue.” That is what Kuya Jan is telling me whenever I become impatient of waiting. But, waiting for the results of the bar exam is an extremely different scenario. This time I may call myself a masochist in prolonging my agony by wishing that the period which the examiners will be done correcting the papers will be extended.

After over two months of regaining myself after the trauma I have suffered in September (taking the bar exam), I may say that at the moment the festive holiday season, the workload, the drinking spree I had with friends, my trip in Indonesia, had set my mind free from worries for sometime and the nightmares occurs only like an aftershock of an earthquake, minimal yet still trembling.

Atty. Andrea, who suffered the same agony last year (Cheers! to my lady lawyer friend) was quite encouraging when she told me that “this will be your happiest Christmas season since you got yourself to law school. Just imagine you don’t have to worry about prelims, recitations and revalida after the Christmas break. What a relief di ba?” I wasn’t able to gather my pieces of courage to ask her if the BIGGER WORRY of waiting for the results would not affect the festive Christmas season?

Anyway, to those who are suffering the same agony, maybe a little dose of what I am doing to forget the worries may help you in some way:

1. BE BUSY. After a week of rest after the exam I immediately returned to the office even though the Boss was willing to extend my leave. I worked to death on my assignments (Caution: though the legal work was as stressful as reviewing for the bar.)

2. REINTEGRATE WITH YOUR LIFE BEFORE LAW SCHOOL. Make calls to your high school friends; remind them that it’s almost ten years since you graduated and maybe its time to have the HS class reunion. Do the text brigade; forward all your inbox sms from jokes to sentimental quotes. Visit college hangouts and you will be surprised that your block mates are still hanging out with each other once in a while except those who chose to enter law school. Be active with your organization; I’m sure you have neglected org work for recits, exam, recits, and exam again. (Caution: you need to prepare a standard answer to those who will ask you: “How’s the bar?” In my case it is an alternate of the following: “I was able to answer the questions, I just don’t know if my answers were right.” or “the Bar exam is difficult, let’s keep praying.” or “I am hopeful.” or “With God’s help, I can make it.” or “Bar? as in Tia Maria’s or Embassy?” Note: Of course you can innovate.)

3. PRAYERS. You will practice your faith which you barely did when you were so busy in school. Novena. Sunday Mass. Wednesday Mass (Baclaran), Thursday Mass (St. Jude), First Saturday (Virgin Mary). Probably, you will even do the Visita Iglesia only this time months earlier than the Holy Week. Praying is helpful, it gives you peace of mind. Anyway, it is only in God’s time that you will be able to become a lawyer. Many suggested the Prayer of Serenity.

“Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

4. AVOID DEMENTORS. Don’t visit the Supreme court website to download the bar questions and try to answer it again with your notes open; that wouldn’t change the answers in your booklets. Be modest about the fact that you took the bar exam or else that would invite a multiplying number of dementors who will ask you “when will the results be released?” or “saan blowout?” and similar annoying questions.

5. READ AN INSPIRATIONAL BOOK. In my case, I tried reading “The Purpose-Driven Life”. Also, an astrology book will help you accept the fact that if is not yet written in the stars it wouldn’t happen. (Note: You may read alternative books that would not remind you of the agony: Novels, Comic books, Magazines, etc.)

6. CELEBRATE LIFE. There will be lots of occasion after September and the holidays will be helpful. All Saints Day, Bonifacio Day, Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day, celebrate each of them with your loved ones. (Caution: this might cost you a lot of money.)

7. FIND A LOVE LIFE. Hmmmm, if you have one, you might have the most neglected relationship on earth; so be the girlfriend or boyfriend that you weren’t when you were still busy cuddling your books and dating with your cases. If you are single, it’s now time to get a make-over by removing your eyeglasses and getting some haircut and putting a little make-up, go to the bars and find someone! (Caution: according to Nysa, bars are a place where everyone looks good in the dark.) or find some involvement if you are not ready to commit: walang relasyon pero masaya. For married persons, think of having a baby, that would be your lucky charm.

8. TRAVEL. Go out of town. If you have the budget or some sponsorship, out of the country. If your pockets will not permit, go to malls, volunteer to do the errands of the household among those are going to the supermarket or paying the utility bills. It will somehow help you lose sight of law books which you carefully arranged in the shelf at home.

9. HEALTHY LIVING. It’s now the perfect time to reduce your coffee intake. Indulge in the gym, swim or get into sports. Avoid chocolates and chips but go for yogurt or veggies. (I’m sure barristers gained weight during the review, so it’s time to get lean and put your curves in the right places…Ooops! I’m guilty of not practicing what I preach.)

10. LOOK FORWARD. In the six months, learn how to deal with what are the possibilities of tomorrow. It would be hard to accommodate negative thoughts but it is practical to accept what might be the next step whatever may be the result. Prepare a dream chart, plan A, plan B or plan C. It would be easier to explore options whether the result would be positive or negative. Life does not end after the bar exam. In fact, the release of the results will just be the beginning, another saga.

Really, the agony will not be over until the results are released. In fact, the approaching months will be more difficult. But dwelling with unfounded fears won’t help instead it will exacerbate what we are going through.

Have a blessed Christmas to the aspiring lawyers of 2008. Let’s keep our fingers cross and hope for the best.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar results, waiting for results