Taking the Road Less Traveled by Me

Many of you have already heard my celebratory news, but for anyone else out there checking in at this spot...Wisconsin accepted me into their law school for the fall 2008. It's odd for me to be in a situation where my future involves staying put, as opposed to moving, but I am pretty pleased with it. Traveling in the fall made me realize how much I enjoy living in Madison.

As I sent my law school applications off, Minnesota was my first choice school with Wisconsin in second. However, as time has passed since my return, I have felt increasingly uncertain about those placements. On one hand some of my closest friends here are planning their departures. And on the other, there are a great many comforts everywhere I turn.

It takes a great deal of time and effort to create a place for oneself in a new community. Madison is the first city in which I have ever felt at home as an adult, where I feel a sense a belonging. While I am absolutely eager for law school, I do not want my entire existance to be law school. Knowing there will be people in my life, significant people, nearby who will know of my law school existance, but not be of it, is quite reassuring to me. UW-Madison also has one of the best public policy programs in the country, which I intend to take advantage of in my studies. With the state capital just a short walk down the street, I figure there will be even less need for commuting of any sort by staying put in Madison.

I have not actually visited UW-Madison law school officially, so I will be making an appointment to do so. The partner of one of my former colleagues in Housing on campus is currently a student there, so I am hoping to learn more about her experiences over the past couple of years. I already know I love Madison's campus -- what's not to like -- although it definitely needs to work on being more accessible. Now I can take advantage of all the aspects of campus I never did living there for three years, which were more part of the student world. 'Cause I'm gonna be a student!