In the Blink of an Eye...the Final Round!

Nunca sabes lo que tienes hasta que lo pierdes.
This Spanish phrase means: you never know what you have until you lose it.

This came to mind, my first semester of 1L year when I received my first survival package from my amazing familia and the other surprises from my wonderful amigas. For me, realizing I was living in a new setting, and in some ways a new culture, was a wake-up call to appreciate what I missed so much, and unfortunately, had not fully appreciated when I did have it.

The blessing now is to realize that what I thought was lost, was really only "on hold" for three years. But that first semester really seemed eternal! Getting treats from home was a treat in itself. For me, spicy foods (and candy) remind me of my casa. (Note: I will try to blog about my fascination with hot sauce, salsa, and spicy foods in a future blog.) Often, these little treats from my familia have been a reward (and comfort) I cherish during any of those difficult days I happen to face; they simply make life a little bit more bearable.

And then, somehow, in what seems like a blink of an eye (but with multiple survival packages later), here I am in the last semester of law school. This is the final round!

In fact, this past week marked the official beginning to my last three months of law school. From three years, it is now less than three months until Cinco de Mayo (or May 5th), which for Regent Law, will be more than only a traditional Mexican holiday celebration.

It just so happens, that on that day, I will get to celebrate (and commemorate) a victory not unlike the Battle of Puebla (the Mexican historic event that occurred on Cinco de Mayo), which was a small Mexican army battling against circumstances that seemed impossible to overcome. (For details on the history of Cinco de Mayo, see: http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo). My victoria will be against three years of quite-trying circumstances and personal battles while in law school. It will be a victoria that was only a sueño (dream) at some point in my life, yet soon will be a tangible, experience-with-all-your-senses-for-less-than-24-hours, realidad.

This Cinco de Mayo, my name will officially gain the initials "J.D." after it. Two little initials that have cost more than money, but that I know are worth the cost. And, after God-willing passing that CA bar exam looming in the coming summer months, I will finally be an attorney!

However, for those of you thinking life is now smooth sailing, not so fast amigos, think again.

This past week, for example, seemed like another official "let's-see-how-much-Keila-can-handle" week. After Starbucks drinks didn't work to keep me going (by only Tuesday!), I resorted to drinking Red Bull. But, it was only after drinking some Red Bull after 5pm, that I remembered why I only drink those energy drinks if I need to pull all-nighters. I went to sleep as the sun arose; when others get up to go to work. Muy mal!

Then, think of everything that could possibly go wrong, from burning not just toast, but the entire toaster, and it most likely happened to me last week. Pretty much every single day of the entire week was a "can I please just go back to bed moment"! I was very relieved when Saturday finally arrived.

Facing those moments, helps me to see how very blessed I am to have encouraging amigos and my familia who continually keep me believing (and remind me) to keep going even when life gets wintry, figuratively and literally.

Whenever these chaotic, tiring, and insanely challenging times come, I remember the lyrics to the Barlow Girl song, "One More Round" which has pretty much been my law school theme song since 1L year:

"Round one wasn't at I thought it'd be

Round two I'm struggling to breathe

3, 4, 5, 6, 7 times I wondered why I stepped inside this ring

I may be knocked down and so bruised

But I'm here to tell you

That I may be knocked down but not for the count

So take me one more round

I'll just keep fighting

One more round

You're messing me up but I'm still here

One more round I'll come out swinging

One more round

I'm telling you now I'm not gonna lose at you

It's so hard to get up off the floor again

But I know that victory is when

I'm pushing through the pain that tries to feed me lies that I won't reach the end

I may be bloodied and so bruised

But I'm here to tell you

That I may be knocked down but not for the count . . .

I am not defeated

Though you cannot see it

I have never won a battle on my own

I find strength in weakness

I find hope in believing

God is for me who can bring me down?

So take me one more round

I'll just keep fighting."

Strength in weakness is most definitely my life motto. And I for sure have never won any battles on my own. Without God's help, I would not have made it this far. And I'm very, very thankful that for the season of law school, this is now my final round.

Why do I share all this? Well, because like I wrote at the beginning of the blog, nunca sabes lo que tienes, hasta que lo pierdes. In other words, recently, I have realized that once again, graduation will bring excitement and lots to look forward to. Yet, again my life will change, and what has become normal will soon be in the past; new transitions and experiences will once again begin. In other words, I might not miss everything about law school or about living in Virginia, but I will surely miss some of it. I guess this is a little reminder (for me and others reading) to be thankful and appreciate your life right now. Wherever you are now, this season of life, be encouraged and be thankful. Life changes in what seems like a blink of the eye; what you see now is not always going to be there.

In short, carpe diem amigos, and remember:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...." Ecclesiastes 3:1