Here is the truth they do not tell you during orientation: the law is hard, but people do not have to be.
The pressure of this profession is real.
Burnout, imposter syndrome, toxic competition. However, what makes it worse is the elitism we foster among ourselves. Let us be honest, some law students wear the title like it is a royal badge, and every interaction becomes a performance. Some are quick to correct you like it is a sport, quick to cancel you over an opinion, and allergic to being wrong. In law school, brilliance is the currency. We are taught to be sharp, argumentative, and unapologetically precise. But, somewhere along the way, critical thinking morphed into constant correction, and healthy discourse turned into condescending lectures.
From “ang OA, Sorry kung natatapakan ko ang loveteam ninyo” to “pagka-law student ninyo” real quick
Most of us probably know this line. Yes, the now-iconic one from PBB housemate Klang. She blurted it out after being called out for supposedly stepping on a love team inside the house. It was dramatic, sure, but also painfully real. Because honestly? I have been thinking about how this line mirrors law school.
Let me explain.
Sometimes, it feels like being in law school is a constant tightrope. You know…one wrong step and someone makes you feel like you have disrespected their entire existence. Not all, but some people are just too much! ‘Yung tipong konting pagkakamali mo lang sa recit and you are suddenly tagged as “not serious,” “not good enough,” or worse, “8080.” Just because they have studied more cases, recite more often, or are simply naturally articulate, does that mean they are better? Or deserving of more respect?
We keep saying we want justice…that we are here to fight for what is right. But somewhere along the way, we forget the most basic thing: to be just in how we treat the people right in front of us. We say we want to defend the oppressed but cannot even speak to our own classmates or other people without making them feel small. We mistake being loud for being strong, when the truth is, real strength sometimes means knowing when to shut up and actually listen.
Walang masama sa pagiging magaling.
In fact, I admire people who are smart and hardworking. Excellence is admirable. But the moment you start using your brilliance to make others feel small, that is where the problem begins. What if that classmate you mocked for going blank in recit just came from a night shift of work? What if that person you whispered about for not knowing the case slept only two hours because they were taking care of a sick parent? We all carry things we do not say out loud.
And here is a bit of a dark thought…but maybe something we need to hear.
When we die, no one will care about our class rank or whether we memorized every last provision of the Rules of Court. We won’t be buried with our annotated codals. What will stick, what people will carry with them, is how we made them feel. That’s it!
Were you kind? Were you decent? Did you make space for others to speak?
And I am not talking just about law school. Even outside of law school… if you face the real world…
Hindi tayo pare-parehas ng laban, hindi rin tayo pare-parehas ng lakas araw-araw.
So yeah…ang OA minsan. And I say this with no hate. Just a gentle reminder that law school is not a competition of who can make others feel less. It is already hard as it is. Let us not make it harder for each other.
Maybe it is time we drop the pretense. Lower the tone, not because we are less, but because we are human. Because at the end of the day, this is not a courtroom. It is just a classroom. Or a conversation. So next time someone asks something you think is “too basic,” maybe pause before you roll your eyes. Maybe it is not your time to show off. Maybe it is your chance to show up for someone else.
And if that offends you?
Well… baka nga sapul sayo and parinig ni Klang, OA ka lang.
NOTE TO THE READERS: Volume XVIII, Issue 2, penned and published by The Red Chronicles, is a Back Issue for the Publication Year 2024-2025. Note that this article aligns with the events relevant to the previous Academic Year 2024-2025. For further viewing of the same, you may view the flipbook version or visit our official website at theredchronicles.net.