By Joseph Napoleon Matienzo
“Resolve amidst adversity.”
You may consider this as your first achievement upon entering law school in this day and time. On behalf of The Red Chronicles, let me not only welcome you to the Bedan community, but also congratulate you on your decision to enter law school during these challenging times. At this point, you may have heard of the difficulties in obtaining the much-coveted Juris Doctor degree, compounded with the struggle which the current pandemic brings.
The already rigorous journey is made much more demanding with the implemented online learning system, not to mention the technicalities brought about by this mode of learning. The decision alone to enroll in this school year may illustrate that you have a strong resolve, which is one of the crucial traits that you will need to traverse this challenging endeavor.
“The decision alone to enroll in this school year may illustrate that you have a strong resolve, which is one of the crucial traits that you will need to traverse this challenging endeavor.”
This year is the second academic year of online classes brought about by the worldwide pandemic. It may seem like the pre-pandemic setup of the traditional learning system, wherein we physically attend classes in our school and in which we can easily experience being a part of a larger community, was a long time ago. Amidst the government-mandated quarantine, each and every one of us is vulnerable and may easily fall into our own little world, hence the feeling of being alone in our pursuit to become a lawyer. John Donne said that “no man is an island,” which expresses the idea that human beings do badly when isolated from others and need to be part of a community to thrive. This idea is much more applicable in law school in order for us not only to survive but to thrive. Moreover, by being part of something that is much bigger than ourselves, we can maximize the learnings and opportunities that law school provides us.
It is our aim in this issue to initially guide you in the experience of being a member of the Bedan community despite the online learning system. We sincerely hope that you may find the articles in this issue helpful in your quest to attain the title of “ATTY.” ∎