sending in another form

We've made a decision: I will take next semester off as well. I will rejoin the class behind mine, graduating a year behind my section. Law school will take me four years instead of three. Then again, I'll graduate with a kid as well as a J.D., all in all a win if you ask me.

In reality, we effectively made our decision months ago by not reserving a place for Nathaniel in one of the few daycares that take part-time infants, or by not immediately searching for a part-time infant nanny. We knew that at the time, but last-minute arrangements can sometimes be made, so there was always the possibility that I might go back. Still though, as my husband's leave petered out, and the winter rain moved in, trying to balance classes, infant daycare, law review, and a long commute seemed increasingly unattractive.

There aren't many law school drawbacks to waiting a year. The law firm where I worked over the summer will still be there when I graduate. They knew I was pregnant before I was hired; it doesn't seem to have been an issue for them. And if that firm doesn't work out, I can do fall OCI next semester and do a normal 2L summer since I won't be off-schedule by a semester. Law review will wait until next year. I'll miss my classmates, but at my school 2Ls and 3Ls frequently take classes together so I will see them again. Plus, several of them already promised me their outlines from this year. Score.

The biggest law school annoyance is that I have to give up two scholarships. The school is attempting to see if they can defer theirs for a year, but it's a state school and their freedom on issues like that is restricted. They might re-grant it to me, but then again, they might not. The school is doing what they can. I appreciate the effort, even if I suspect that I will lose the scholarship in the end.

On the other hand, the private corporation that gave me a scholarship is not making any effort at flexibility. "Sorry," they said, "you're not enrolled. We don't reserve scholarships."

"But you reserve scholarships for people who take medical leaves." I understand their point, but I wasn't going to let it go without a fight.

"Parenthood isn't a medical condition." True, that. Still though, their inflexibility bugs me.

The scholarships, though, are a small annoyance overall. I'm glad to have made the decision and I'm glad for the time with my boy.

Comments

[kristine]

Congrats on making the decision. I know you'll love having the year off with your son.

[CM]

Enjoy your time off. Is there any way you can reapply for the scholarships?

[transmogriflaw]

Thanks.

I can't reapply for the school scholarship because there is no application for it. They decide whether to drop money your way or not, and there isn't much you can otherwise do.

The private organization is irritating, to say the least. You have to be enrolled to apply for the scholarship. I'm not enrolled, so can't apply. Of course, the reason I lost the scholarship in the first place is that I'm not enrolled. I'm arguing about this with them. We'll see what happens.