Confidence and kindness

It’s tomorrow.

Yesterday, that sentence scared me beyond belief, actually to the point of tears.

Today, my mindset has changed. Goodbye, Kleenex. Goodbye, hypersecretion of glucocorticoids. Hello, LSAT.

I had been so scared of the test that I was starting to doubt myself. My last practice test didn’t go over as well as I’d have hoped, but thanks to the support of family and friends, my confidence is renewed. Tomorrow is another day, and I am prepared.

Prepared – what a word! I didn’t take a prep course, just practice books and Saturdays spent at the library with a timer. But I prepared well, I think. There comes a point when preparation is all you can do, and there’s no more preparation to be done.

Here are two quotes that I love (and I love quotes):

Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control. – Richard Kline

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation. – Arthur Ashe

I am confident. I am prepared. I am ready.

Why let a ScanTron scare you from success? It’s just paper, bubbles, and charcoal-colored remnants of a No. 2 wooden pencil. I am no less of a person if my score is lower than expected. I am intelligent and confident, combined with preparation, to follow through.

The support of family and friends has been so great. Derrick, I couldn't have made it through yesterday without your reassurance. You're amazing. The one word you have described me is "determined," and with that determination I will do this. Erin, I couldn't have asked for a better roommate to put up with my griping and for taking away my prep books last night so I wasn't tempted. Mom and Dad, thank you for your support from your calls, texts and emails from yesterday and today.

I also got some advice from a UNI student who took his LSAT in June and shined on test day: "On test morning just look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'I'm the baddest mother @#%$^& in the world and I'm going to rock this test.' You've done the work now its time to go fill in some circles and get the score you deserve." For the record, I will do that in the mirror at 6 a.m.

SLU law, here I come.