What a marathon!
The year was long, but I think (hope) it was productive, and I am still standing here as 1L rolls into 2L for me. Like any good long-distance race, there were times when I felt energized and on top of things, and there were other times when I wasn’t sure I would make it to the end of the hour. I’m guessing most of you know what I’m talking about.
I learned along the way: that it’s okay to ask questions (constantly); it’s okay to close the door and let out a silent scream (or cry); and being the rookie in the room around a table of seasoned Dal folks isn’t always a disadvantage. However, what I learned the most is that approaching challenges with humility and an open mind goes a long way in building community and finding solutions.
However, what I learned the most is that approaching challenges with humility and an open mind goes a long way in building community and finding solutions.
I also learned to take in the beauty of this lovely oceanside city. I had forgotten how much I love the briny smell of the ocean, the old stone buildings, the colourful clapboard row houses, the sound of the foghorn, and a really fresh scallop or bucket of mussels. This is a great place to live and learn, and I feel blessed to find myself back here.
Challenges and resilience
I don’t need to walk through the highs and lows from this past year – you know them, and many (particularly the impact of the war in the Middle East) continue to be part of the fabric of our law school community. The highs were typically a reflection of the excellence of this community: faculty garnered heaps of national attention and awards, students wrote award-winning papers, mooters argued their way to successful outcomes, and many of the staff won university-wide accolades. And yet, that doesn’t mean that everything is rosy. We have challenges, but I was heartened to experience more interest in working through those challenges, collaboratively, than walking away.
Favourite events of 2023/2024
My favorite events this past year were really bookends to the year. I loved the reunion gathering in September. This was my first opportunity to share news of the law school, to celebrate with a happy crowd of loyal alumni and to try out my newfound voice as Schulich’s cheerleader-in-chief. At the other end of the year, Convocation in May was inspiring. I felt more like an observer than a true participant given that I didn’t know most of the student –and half the time I had no idea where to stand and what was next, but it was still a blast. The sheer joy and relief of a crowd of successful Schulich Law graduates kept me smiling for days.
Surprises and building community
Perhaps what surprised me the most this year was how much I had missed the energy and optimism of students embarking on new learning and career goals. Back in January I attended a networking event at Bulwark Cider, co-hosted by DFLA, BLAD, and PPLS, and the engagement and energy in the room was just fantastic. Moments like this were just a snapshot of what I experienced throughout the year when I found myself with students. I also heard plenty of worries and concerns sitting in the faculty lounge with student organizations or talking with students on Wednesday morning in the Student Lounge. But these were all shared with a sense of communal responsibility and optimism.
There is so much we can do together – and we will!
Advice from a year in review
The Weldon Times team asked me to end this with three nuggets of wisdom. Here it goes:
1. Don’t skip those few minutes each day in your happy place, whether it’s a coffee shop, time with a crossword, a little yoga, listening to your favourite podcast, a walk in the park, or the gym. For me, it’s an early morning walk with my dog in Point Pleasant Park. Even when it feels like I just don’t have the time, I’m grateful I took the time to chill and clear my head. Everything flows better after that.
2. Ask questions. As I mentioned above, my whole year was one endless series of questions: Why do we do that? What does that mean? Can you explain that again? While at times I felt awkward and embarrassed, I didn’t really have a choice if I was going to do my job, and most times, my questions sparked interesting conversations.
3. Take a deep breath and pause. Crisis and conflict are often the consequence of poor communication, and poor communication is often the outcome of hasty responses. We all know how quickly things can escalate on social media and through email. Take the time to respond to something with calmness and intelligence and give those around you the benefit of the doubt. Grace is a powerful healer and motivator.
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