My New Inspiration...

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the National Conference of Law Reviews this past week. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was recently elected Managing Editor of our Law Review, and my new position on the incoming board afforded me a spot at the Conference, which was hosted by St. Thomas, and held at the Westin Diplomat here in sunny South Florida. I spent the week in panels, learning about my new position, and at meals listening to speakers. Mostly I felt overwhelmed by the amount of information being thrown at my head...lol.
The best part of my week, however, came in the form of a woman named Catherine Crier. Some of you out there in Blog World may know Ms. Crier as the former host of Catherine Crier Live on Court TV, as a best selling author, as a former state judge.... she is a woman who has worn many hats.... I was honored to play host to Ms. Crier on two different nights during the Conference. First she attended a dinner where Alberto Gonzales spoke, and then she was the keynote speaker at our closing dinner on Saturday night. I accompanied her to both of these events, and I was honored to do so.
I am one of those somehwat annoying people who believe that everything happens for a reason. That philosophy has gotten me through a lot of tough times. These past few days have been stressful... spending time at a conference, concentrating only on law review, while the rest of my life had to take a backseat, was stressful.... I was taking calls about Mock Trial, worrying about my senior writing requirement, upcoming finals.... ugh....
But then.... I met Catherine Crier, and I know it sounds cliche, but all of a sudden, it all seemed worth it. Here was a woman who had gone to law school, litigated, become a judge, carved out a career as a journalist, started her own production company.... and she didn't accomplish these things by sitting around and waiting for opportunity to find her. And there I sat, stressed, at the conference, worried about getting everything done... I realized in speaking with Ms. Crier, that I should instead be relishing these moments of opportunity that I am creating for myself. I should be proud to lead such a full and accomplished life. Yes, my life is crazy... but without the craziness, I would be bored and unfulfilled. Ms. Crier took the time to learn about me and make me feel special.... she is an amazing person; full of incredible stories, funny, brilliant, warm, and kind... meeting her has renewed my spirit for this final push before finals. Meeting her was the reason I was supposed to be at the National Conference of Law Reviews... maybe even the reason I was supposed to run for executive board in the first place... who knows?
Catherine Crier signed a book for me before we parted company. I didn't read the inscription until I returned home from the Conference. I opened the book and read:
"Dara, you're a star... Catherine"
That is one inscription I will be tucking away for moments of self doubt :)

Cheers,
Dara