Law school dilemma
Posted 04-17-2008 at 06:46 PM by aarnold808
Okay,
I was recently admitted to law school. Yay! I had planned to live somewhere close so I could be close to my family -- especially my ailing grandparents, whom I love more than anything.
But the law school that has accepted me is a little farther away than I had originally anticipated. I'm worried. Point. Blank. Period. I have been taking care of my grandparents full time for the last four years of my life. My grandmother is my best friend. And when I have to start law school, she has decided it would be best for me to get an apartment close to campus. But close to campus means away from her, and I don't know if I could do that.
My grandmother has dialysis three times a week due to renal failure. She and I have made it through everything: the high blood pressures, visits in and out of the hospital.. and it kills me to know I won't be there to help her. I know her medications, I know when her sugar gets low, I know when she gets nervous, when she's scared. She knows when I'm hurt, confused, sad, or angry. Who's going to take her to dialysis.. no one is going to take the time and attention that I do to make sure she is alright. I hate this. I love the opportunity I have to go to law school, but I have such a huge price to pay.
I know why she's making me leave though. She wants to me live my life and not worry about her. But how can I do that? She is my best friend. If I could trade places with her, I would. I don't know what to do...
Sometimes I wonder if law school is the right thing for me to do. I don't want anything to happen to my family while I'm gone. But law school is my dream. I love law. Everything about it. It's what I've worked so hard for. I just don't know what to do.. I can't leave for law school.. because it means I'm leaving my grandmother behind..
I was recently admitted to law school. Yay! I had planned to live somewhere close so I could be close to my family -- especially my ailing grandparents, whom I love more than anything.
But the law school that has accepted me is a little farther away than I had originally anticipated. I'm worried. Point. Blank. Period. I have been taking care of my grandparents full time for the last four years of my life. My grandmother is my best friend. And when I have to start law school, she has decided it would be best for me to get an apartment close to campus. But close to campus means away from her, and I don't know if I could do that.
My grandmother has dialysis three times a week due to renal failure. She and I have made it through everything: the high blood pressures, visits in and out of the hospital.. and it kills me to know I won't be there to help her. I know her medications, I know when her sugar gets low, I know when she gets nervous, when she's scared. She knows when I'm hurt, confused, sad, or angry. Who's going to take her to dialysis.. no one is going to take the time and attention that I do to make sure she is alright. I hate this. I love the opportunity I have to go to law school, but I have such a huge price to pay.
I know why she's making me leave though. She wants to me live my life and not worry about her. But how can I do that? She is my best friend. If I could trade places with her, I would. I don't know what to do...
Sometimes I wonder if law school is the right thing for me to do. I don't want anything to happen to my family while I'm gone. But law school is my dream. I love law. Everything about it. It's what I've worked so hard for. I just don't know what to do.. I can't leave for law school.. because it means I'm leaving my grandmother behind..
Comments 3
Total Comments 3
Comments
 |  Wow, I'm all weepy just reading about the love you have for your grandparents. You sound like a saint. You're the only one who knows what's best, but I can just imagine the pride your grandma will feel knowing that you're in law school and chasing your dreams. Sending you positive thoughts and hoping for the best. |
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| |  This is going to be a hard decision to make. You have to do what you have to do for yourself but you also don't want to have any regrets! Is it close enough that you can come over on the weekends. I was in a similar situation, well still kinda am. I'm very close to my parents, especially my mom. My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003 and it was my junior year in college where I was attending to be a chemical engineer. When I found out, it felt like my whole world came crashing down! I mean, it was the hardest time of my life! My school was 50 miles away and I would come see her every weekend even before she was diagnosed but now I felt like I should take a couple of semesters off and take care of her. I know she would've loved to have me there full time but she also wanted me to see me become the first female engineer in our family and encouraged me to keep going. It wasn't easy to go to school, come throughout the week to see her at home or the hospital, and then come every weekend too! She passed away Dec 2007 and its still hard for me to accept it. I miss her dearly and wish she was here to see me doing so good and be there when I have kids and etc! But I also have no regrets, I did as much as I could for her and she knows that  I know she's proud of me and still watching over her familyI now work close to where I went to school and still come home to see my dad, clean up around the house, cook plenty of food. To some people, like you and me, there's nothing like family. And doing what we do fulfills our heart. I hope this helps you somehow  I hope you can come to a compromise where you are able to do both. This is a very critical time of your life and building your career now will go a long way. |
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| |  I just graduated from law school in May and I can tell you - it takes up ALL of your time. It will consume you, and it will demand all of your time (especially the first year). Of course, only you can make this decision. Maybe you can ask your school if you can defer your acceptance? I wish you the best of luck - you will make the right decision. Everything always happens for a reason. |
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