I've been hearing these things for the past four months and I've begun to take them very, very seriously. My girlfriend who recently interned for Governor Tim Pawlenty relayed his words of wisdom to me, an individual already in a state of uncertainty.
At a thank you reception for a number of interns who worked for him, he asked, out of the blue, "So are any of you thinking about going to law school?" No one spoke. He said, "Good" and nodded slightly. "My only advice to you all is DON'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL. Do whatever it is that interests you, and run with it. If you are at all outgoing, law school will suck the life and personality out of you."
So yeah, I've thought about it. I'm accepted to UC Hastings and I may not go. Maybe I'll reapply in two years, maybe I'll do something else. Maybe I'll take some time to really figure out what the hell makes up this thing I call me. Wanting to be successful and saying "What else would I do" is not a very good reason. I'm not so sure "getting into politics" is a very good reason either. Being a government lawyer would be alright, maybe, I don't know, but if I want to be a government lawyer I won't make much more than I make right now and so there really isn't a rush to get into right this instant then is there?
Food for thought.