JUMEN GAMARU TAMAYO

Creative Writing

A WORTHY MOVE

Introduction

“At some point during their degrees, when motivation levels are low, and the

mountain of cases to read high, law students will question their choice. A law degree will

stretch you to your limits and test your commitment. I know many students who have

dropped out of law degrees unable to cope with the intensity. Don't make the decision over

the choice of degree lightly. A law degree is a very expensive investment. In fact, some may

be better off choosing a degree they enjoy at university in which they can gain better honors

and then decide whether to commit to law and do the GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law).”

Attending law school? Why not? After all, it’s in my goal list. Being a lawyer is not

just for prominence, or a guaranteed passport to a greener life, but also a better chance to

lend help to others. Hence, two things are at stake: study the hardest and hurdle the bar

examination.

I have read articles that replete of this story. Some shared their experiences,

struggles, and their study habits while in law school. Some cursed law school for making

their life miserable. Miserable means giving up their time for social life to go through the

avalanche of required readings. Because in law school I believe, the only relaxing moment

(but not all the time) is when the professor will not be around.

What I am trying to figure out in the preceding paragraph is a life of a typical law

student. What do I mean by this? A typical student is someone whose only task is to study

and no other activities that would divide some of his time. On the other hand, there are

some who would dare enough to juggle study and work. He could be someone or anyone

who has the courage to take up law while working for a living. That someone is me...trying

to shoot a bird and an eagle in a single shot.

HOW DID I GET THE IDEA?

In 1991, my father was murdered. Since then, my family was a random subject of

senseless and appalling behaviour from other people. As a young poor boy, poverty has

always been my companion which often reminds me of those who killed my father. Those

tender years must be attended in by a father. Nonetheless, all I can do that time is to allow

my tears to wash and ease the agonies within me. The grim picture of our family made us

more susceptible and vulnerable to unbecoming circumstances, particularly our mother who

was left to feed seven mouths. The injustice that my mother experienced paved the way to

where I am now...a law student. From that time on, I decided to be the man in the family

who would protect my loved ones from anyone who will try to hurt them.

Before entering law school, I was a typical working guy who spent almost twelve

hours at work. On weekends, I just stayed in my apartment doing lazy things. Sometimes, I

also hang out with my officemates and friends. This was my everyday routine before. Until

one time, I read an article on the result of the 2012 bar examination where an Ateneo

graduate, Ignatius Ingles, topped the examination. I cannot explain why. This re-ignited my

desire of entering law school. So I stopped doing idle things and decided to take up law

degree.

In 2013, after carefully choosing the school that fits my financial and work

conditions, I took up the entrance examination and eventually accepted in the PUP College

of Law. I am one of the pioneering students of the Juris Doctor program.

MANAGING MY TIME

One of the toughest challenges I am facing now is managing time between study and

work. How does my study fit in the schedule?

Before embarking in this program, I laid my plans to my immediate boss who later

helped me arranged my time in the company so I can pursue my studies. As a result, it was

agreed upon that I have to work from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM instead of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Fortunately, there is no work on weekends. The one hour difference will give me ample time

to travel from my workplace to law school. But there are unavoidable circumstances where

my boss needs my assistance. Consequently, I sometimes go to school late. In spite of this, I

am very thankful because most of the time I still arrived in class earlier than professors. I

considered this a blessing.

During my first year, I find difficulty adjusting my sleeping time. The regular eight to

nine hours sleeps become four to five hours during weekdays. My night classes end at 9

o’clock. I have an hour to be at my apartment. I also should have eaten my dinner before

ten o’clock, so I can start reading and finishing my school assignments. I often spend four

hours of each night to study. I go to bed at 2 o’clock in the morning and wakeup at seven in

the morning.

In the office, I use my break time to scan my notes, to read or make case digests in

preparation for my evening classes. I am an Audit Supervisor in a group of casual dining

restaurants. My work has already exhausted my time and energy even before entering my

class.

CHALLENGES

I always hear some saying that if you want to ruin your life, enter law school. But for

me, I consider law school as a washing machine. It spins and smothers me, but later on it

will bring out a better me.

In the life I have chosen, I considered my health as the biggest challenge. It is only by

being healthy that makes me fit and sound to finish the journey I enthusiastically started. I

need to have more waking time over the luxury of cuddling my pillows. I also need elements

like coffee to stay awake for all the tremendous and mind-boggling reading assignments.

There is so much to read and learn.

I came a crossed with an article describing a law school, “Law school is intense. In

your law school, you are always competing against your fellow students for the best grades.

Some law schools mark using a bell curve, so that your grades directly depend on how the

rest of the year performs. Some students become extremely defensive and do everything

they can purely for personal gain at the expense of others. This is rare, but law school can be

a bit like being on "The Apprentice" competing against others in a high pressure

environment with backstabbing and drama!”

I would like to add and perhaps some will agree that the competition extends at the

expense of law textbooks. The school fees are affordable, but not the books. I have stopped

spending for my favorite brand of clothes to save money for those bulky books.

The downside sometimes is sacrificing either my study or my work. When there are

deadlines and/or rush projects to be completed, I have no choice. After all, my work sends

me to law school. Sometimes, during examinations I need to file for a leave to spend more

time reviewing in order to hurdle the sickening exams.

Added challenge to my case is the lack of quality time with my loved ones especially

my girlfriend. Due to postponing and rescheduling of important dates, we sometimes have

misunderstanding. But now, she already accepted my situation and very supportive to my

undertaking.

Lastly, they say that everyone will try to pawn free legal advice from you. However, if

I had a hundred peso for every time a friend has asked a legal question, maybe at this point

in time, I have already saved few thousands of pesos. For some reason, people think that

law students are overflowing fountains of legal knowledge to be tested at will. This is simply

not the case. No, I do not know about the legal intricacies of internet libel law. No, I can't

help you get out of your mobile phone contract. No, I can't help you if you've killed a man!

And even if you do give advice, be sure to add disclaimers.

With all these accounts, I must bravely and squarely go through all the challenges.

How? Simply by working hard, smart, and being organized. The workload becomes easier if

you are well organized and focus at work. Planning ahead and prioritizing work over play

avoids dreaded all-nighters. When reading, one should focus on the end goal: learning the

law in order to apply it correctly in an exam. Shortcuts in reading may be made too: having

an idea of a case's facts and legal principle mean that the case report may be read more

quickly with more focus on the key points. This is not something which is taught; rather I

have had to learn this myself in the process.

Rewards

How about the rewards of being a working student? Probably, there are many. To wit:

1. Mommy and Daddy will be really proud for having a son or daughter studying law

while working;

2. Here in the Philippines, Law is a well-respected degree. According to a lawyer and

a friend, once companies have come to know that you are lawyer, these

companies would fall in line for you to consider their offers. Again according to

this friend of mine, some companies will create a position for you just to be hired.

3. Being a working student, your professor may be more humane and lenient with

regards coming late to his or her class. He or she may also refuse to call you

multiple times during recitations. Just be very respectful.

4. You can gain respect in your workplace. Even your boss would solicit some advice

from you regarding legal matters. Just remember not to be absolute.

5. You will be able to understand when your rights are taken away; and,

6. Making constructive argument with people is a great way to make friends and get

laid.

The finish line is yet to be seen and still a long way to go before getting there. On my

way realizing my dream, I sometimes stumble, fear and discouraged. Whenever negativity

creeps in, I take the courage of that young and poor boy who wanted to protect his family.

Finally, when his dream comes true, he will say...TO GOD ALL BE THE GLORY.