Kimberly St. Pierre will graduate from Cooley in May 2013. As a part-time student who was employed full time during law school, Ms. St. Pierre knows full well the dedication required to succeed in law school. In this posting, which is based on the final journal entry for her externship with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, a grateful Ms. St. Pierre shares the philosophy that helped sustain her through her four years at Cooley.
Well, at long last my law school journey is over. I have taken my last final exam, and I am officially done. It is a happy and sad time, and I cannot say that I could do it over again. Full-time law school, full-time job and internship, studying, and my desire to get good grades have made this an overwhelming journey, but it was well worth it.
As for what I have learned, you name it, I’ve learned it. I’ve come a long way from oversleeping for my first final exam in Criminal Law and thinking “What have I done, I cannot do this,” to “My house is a mess, I need more time,” to, finally, “I can do this, I’m almost done, one day at a time.”
That has been my motto. One day at a time. That is what has gotten me through. Get up at 7 a.m. – internship, driving right to work for eight hours, and get up again, one day at a time.
I know this journal entry is supposed to be written to sum up my internship, but I find that I am overwhelmed that this is the end of it all. I am extremely grateful to Cooley for enabling me to go to school at unordinary times, including Sunday mornings, else I couldn’t have done this. I am thankful to those great professors who have helped me to get along one day at a time. To the incredible people at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office who enriched my world with invaluable practical skills. To those I have met on this four-year journey, who encouraged me, lifted me up when I was down, and especially to those who said I couldn’t do it. Thank you to all of you. You have helped me drive forward and reach this goal, and for this I thank you. I am done!!!