In Like

It may be apparent from some of my posts this semester that I am over school. I don't think that my classes are any different than the past two years (when I actually liked school), but my motivation to do well is basically gone. The incentive is just not there: I have a job, I have taken the classes that will be on the bar exam and that I might use for my career, and I have satisfied all of the graduation requirements except taking the requisite number of credits. Plus, I have a few other things I would rather be doing (like enjoying my last few months of baby-free marriage and then being a mom next semester).

This week was a really good week at school though. I wouldn't say I'm in love with it again, but I'm totally in like. I'm taking this seminar on Law & Morality with about 24 people... approximately 3/4 of the class, including the professor, is really conservative and natural law-ish. I am libertarian, socially liberal and very vocal. I LOVE being contrarian and thinking of logical ways to prove other people (especially the high and mighty, holier-than-thou crowd) wrong. This class assigns political and legal theory readings, right up the alley of a political science major.
The paper in this class could be on any topic we chose, so I am writing on why federal law should not strive to reflect morality, basically arguing that we should not legislate morality on victimless crimes...drug use, prostitution, gay marriage, assisted suicide, etc... (and I'm actually in the minority with that view in this class). I was already excited to work on it because I get to talk about two of my favorites, John Stuart Mill and H.L.A. Hart a lot. Then this week, talking to a Con Law professor working on his latest book, I realized that I could use the 9th Amendment (especially his interpretation of it) to argue my thesis on a Constitutional basis as well as a policy basis.
This made me excited to write the paper (which is due Tuesday), and the words just flowed onto the paper (well, my computer). For me, motivation to do schoolwork is all about momentum... getting over that initial hump. Once I get something done and off my checklist, I feel like I am actually learning and making headway. This makes me excited to do the next thing on my to-do list.
The other amazing thing is my advanced Con Law seminar. A few weeks ago, the professor told us that it was going to be graded on a pass-fail basis because there were multiple professors. Then on Monday, he said that because it's being graded pass-fail, he can't in good conscience make us do the paper. Really?!?! AMAZING!Every week, we read the briefs for cases before the Supreme Court and take turns making oral arguments as petitioners and respondents to the rest of the class. We were supposed to write an opinion on one of these cases. Now that 20 page opinion is suddenly crossed off of my to-do list! I'm not waiting around to hear what the catch is, I'm taking this news and running with it!

What all of this means is that I will be done with 5 credits next week. My few law review duties are almost done. Then I just have 4 classes, one of which I'm taking pass-fail, left to study for final exams. I have a lot of catch-up work to do, and I don't think it will be easy, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.