I need a sedative

I leave for Mexico in one week. The past few days have been highly stressful and emotional. Being gone this summer means missing my brother’s graduation, three weddings (one of which I was supposed to be in), about ten birthdays including mine and Cliff’s, my three year anniversary with Cliff, and everything that comes with a summer at home. I’m giving up a lot to do this internship. I have a one-way ticket to Cancun and a bus ticket to San Cristobal for four days later. I don’t know where I’m living, but there are people down there already looking out for a nice place for me to stay near the center where I’ll be working.

So the plan is to post in this journal, Skype, Facebook, and email to keep in touch with everyone. To some, especially my family, this is a crazy decision. I see it as a risk worth taking. I will be working with the director of a women’s center near the center of San Cristobal. I will be safe, and I won’t be alone. Our coordinator told me that this particular center loves to have interns from DePaul, and they take their interns under their wing, making sure they are socially involved with the people who work there. I’m really excited about what’s to come, even though I’m terribly sad to leave.

I just want those who doubt my decision to consider why I’m going. The work that I will be doing in Mexico is exactly the kind of work I want to do as a career. It’s the reason I sank myself in debt to come to law school. It’s the part of law school that I was most excited about: travelling while I still can, meeting people who work at and run NGOs, helping people in need where possible, and experiencing first-hand the costs and rewards of public service. This summer, I hope, will keep me motivated to get through the grueling banality of law school (although I hear it gets better from here on out) and give me the strength to resist selling my soul to corporate law for lots of money (and it is lots of money).

On a related note, my property final yesterday went alright, but there was a disproportionate amount of questions about trademark and copyright law, which I think was unfair, and the entire exam was very poorly written. I do wish I had given myself more time for the essay portion, but I think the extra time spent on the multiple choice will pay off. My criminal law exam is on Friday. Yowza!
Now arriving at Chicago Union Station.

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For a little study break:  Cram Jam