I sat anxiously in the stands watching a nail-biter. Adrenaline pumping as the score narrowed to a one possession game, then the lead slipped away. I watched as the shots stopped dropping, and the defense became more porous than it had been all season. As the clock hit zero, the team lost. While I am describing a 4th grade basketball game, the dejection on the team's face was immediate. My son's team was undefeated and just lost to a team with a worse record. It wasn't the 2004 Pistons beating the Lakers, but the kids felt it. The coach talked to them for 5-10 minutes after the game. My son told me in the car that the theme of the talk was to learn from the mistakes. There are still enough regular season games left to have the best record, and there is a tournament at the end of the season. Their goals are still attainable.
Many alumni around the country felt defeated last week. The midterm simulated MBE happened for most February bar takers. The results were probably not what most students wanted. While the stakes are much higher, the theme is the same for February bar takers as it is for the 4th grade basketball team. The simulated test is a learning experience to determine where to improve. The goal of passing the bar is still achievable with the right amount of effort.
I encourage everyone to increase effort, but the effort must be efficient. Make sure to complete the required assignments in your course. I also encourage sitting down with your academic support professional to create a customized plan for the rest of bar prep. ASPers at your school can give advice on how to use an extra 10-20 minutes or where to maximize your effort. The exam is in 4 weeks, so efficiency will be critical.
The simulated test is deflating. Don't let it be demotivating. The test is a checkpoint on the journey to a license. Keep up the hard work for 4 more weeks.
(Steven Foster)
