"1L of a Year," as They Say

In case anyone was curious, not only did I plan a pretty fantastic wedding, but I have officially passed my first year of law school. And man, was it quite the ride. They warned us at the beginning of the year that law school can be transformative, that we would change as the year progressed. 

I have slept, drank, and cried more in the last year than all four years in my undergraduate. I have also developed deeper friendships with the friends I arrived with and learned to make true friends in a competitive environment, something I could not have done a few years ago. I have learned how to think harder and study longer, how to sit still for hours upon hours. And through it all, I have been incredibly thankful for the uphill battle this has been. 

I think the most important thing I have learned in the last year though, is how to laugh at myself. Almost four weeks ago, sitting around a small fire, surround close friends and distance acquaintances, I laughed at myself for a simple, funny mistake about a person's name. And in the midst of my laughter, I marveled at the person I have become. That night, I made new friends, I played yard games and lost miserably without blinking an eye. I mentioned law school rarely, not flaunting my lucky position. 

Law school has humbled me. No longer am I a straight "A" student nor do I feel like the one of the smartest in the room, but this year gave me a better understanding of myself in time for my marriage. I'm more likely to ask for help when I need it and rejoice in the success of others as well as my own. My relationships, my work, my knowledge has grown thanks to the work I put into it, alongside those who loved and supported me along the way. 

Tota tua. 

Vocations: Part Two

Let's Add The Church

In my last post, I talked about vocations in terms of careers, the job that will make you happy as opposed to wealthy.  But there's more to vocations than what we are going to be when we grow up.  As someone who was raised Catholic, I was raised knowing I would be one of three things:

1.) Married

This would mean I was married and raising my family in the Church

2.) Single 

Living my life for God and the Church; a family is still possible, just unconventional 

3.) Religious 

A sister or nun.  My life would dedicated to the order I belonged to, and as always, God.  

When I taught at Camp Re-NEW-All this summer, our Wednesday's theme for Reform classes was "Service".  During the time I had with the kids, we would discuss the different types of vocations.  Almost every kid in the room would proudly tell me that they had at least thought about being married.  Yes, even my fifth graders had "thought about it".  But when I asked them the next question, I received very few affirmative answers.  

Have you prayed about it?

A fifth, sixth, or even ninth grader will be able to tell you that they've thought about getting married.  Some of the young ladies have even started planning that big day in their heads.  But how many of them have prayed about it? Asking God if it was in His plan for them to get married?  How many of those young men had thought about, let alone prayed about the type of plan God has in store for them?  I can tell you now, very few.  

Let's take it one step further; how many of those kids have prayed about God's plan for them and actually listened for an answer?  Considered that it may not be what they think it's going to be.  We can't all get married, some of us will be priests, sisters, and singles.  

Our society has stamped the idea of being single with a social taboo.  Between Disney movies, Barbie and Ken dolls, and even Star Wars, our protagonists tend to end up as "dynamic duos" that conquer the world together.  We need to tear down this concept; being single in not a flaw.  

God made us all perfect the way we are right now.  Man and woman were created to be perfect companions, but at the same time, He did not make us lacking of anything we need to achieve what He desires for us.  

Whether God's plan for you includes a spouse, a cat, or a parish, He wants to help you reach it.  

He can only do that though if you let Him in.  Pray about it.  Turn down your music, put your phone screen down on your desk, and ask Him what He wants for you, and then listen.  It just takes a minute or two, so why don't you try it now?

Our Lady of Lourdes in Pittsburg, KS 

Totus tuus, 

LeAnn