I want to apologize in advance for any grammatical or philosophical loopyness contained in this post. I had a stubborn wisdom tooth pulled two days ago and am still dealing with a good bit of pain and, hence, medication.
2020 has been some year, no doubt. And as it counts it down, I’ve had a little bit of a chance to reflect, and I’m going to try to shed some light in what’s been an eerily dark tunnel for many of us.
Personally, 2020 has seen me complete two semesters of law school—difficult, awkward, bizarre semesters, as they might have been.
• I made Belmont’s Moot Court team over the summer, an accomplishment I am incredibly proud of.
For those who don’t know, Moot Court is a law school honor. It’s a team that competes in simulated arguments before an appellate court—the type of argument you’d give from a state court of appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. In one semester your team will research and write a brief on your side of the problem, and then eventually compete by arguing both sides of that argument before a panel of “judges.”
Let’s just say this: when I started law school, participating in Moot was not something that would have even been on my radar—it would have been too lofty a goal, too much time to fit into my schedule. But I did it. In 2020.
And in just one semester, I learned so much, grew so much, and gained so much confidence. The students I was surrounded by are all brilliant, and our professor “coach” is an absolute rock star.
And as an added bonus, I can probably answer all of your most pressing questions about the Federal Magistrates Act.
• I was elected as a Student Bar Association Senator for my 2L class!
This was another honor that would not have been on my radar going into law school. In fact, I hadn’t run for any kind of office since 7th grade (and lost, lol).
While we’ve been limited in a lot of ways, by the Covid epidemic, it has been a really positive experience for me to offer my skillset, listen to my classmates, and to try to help navigate these bizarre times with equal amounts of realism and positivity.
• I got my first legal job!
Since the late spring, I’ve been working as a law clerk (along with wearing a few other hats) for a fantastic attorney in my hometown. I have learned so much, not only about the law itself, but about the ins and outs of the daily practice of law. In the seven or so months that I’ve been working in this position, I’ve written and filed civil complaints, interviewed clients we’re defending on criminal charges, been introduced to judges, and so much more.
I became a published author.
This is one of the things I’m most proud of. Quoir Publishing (huge shout out to Rafael Polendo, Matthew Distefano, and everyone else who helped make that happen!) released my debut novel “The Wages of Grace.”
For all of you who bought the book, read it, and/or reviewed it, I want to say a huge thank you.
I have to say that releasing that baby out into the world came with its own share of anxiety. I realized, after publication, that this book I’d spent 11 years writing, re-writing, editing, dreaming about, fretting about, and caring about, had been read by less than ten people before it went to press. This book was a labor of love that was close to my heart, and I held it close to my chest before it released.
I’m not sure quite what I expected in terms of response, but those who have read it have been incredibly kind, and the fact that it’s resonated with people has given me so much happiness.
The Wages of Grace was never intended to be a mass-market, bubble-gum, type of read. It’s a novel that dives deep into characters, into time periods, into suffering and addiction and guilt and ultimately, redemption.
The fact that so many of you have found meaning in this book is pure joy for me, and I am so grateful.
I watched Arsenal win yet another FA Cup and Community Shield.
And we’ll leave it at that for now, lol.
There’s more to come!
Toward the end of this month, the BlackFip Creative crew (along with some extremely talented actors) will be starting production on a short film I wrote a while back. More details on that will be coming for sure!
I’ve got another novel that is drafted and through the first few rounds of edits, and another two that are in the works… again, more details coming later!
My girls are good. They are healthy and smart and, most of all, kind.
My Jami is working on her own work of fiction! Maybe one day she’ll let me read it! ;)
This has been a long, overdue and, perhaps rambling post, but I want to close out with this…