My Dear,

Get aggressive with your goals, lazy people stay behind.

“But investing is hard! But I do not want to break up, because then I’ll be alone! But learning is for few selected people! But I do not have time! But people will stare! But that sounds hard!”

But struggling is alright? K.

Some of you think way too much. You should be worried about who you are becoming rather than who you were. Nobody cares and nobody remembers, but you.

Chase yourself, and the rest will fall apart as it is meant to be.

If I may say, there is a exceptionally thin line between being unbothered and focused on yourself and being so out of touch with reality to a point even a legitimate critic that is not aligned with the persona you manufactured is seen as out of pocket.

In circumstances similar to the latter, please consider waking the fuck up.

Academic advices from a (non american) law student.

Premise: I feel the urge to underline the fact that I am not American nor attend any university in America due to the fact that most tips and tricks I found, coming from Americans, were scarce in terms of concrete application. If you found them to be useful, then I am more than glad. All I wish to do is to share different experiences and approaches to the university world that are maybe differing from the usual content.

I. “Time restricted” spaced repetition: the great majority of the subject in my curriculum are quite complex and portray a large number of complex topics, Latin terms, and regulations that are specific. What I suggest here is to write down in a fun colour (to me it is red) the words, terms, names and phrases that are difficult for you to remember. We are not born all knowing, and some terms can be, at first glance, peculiar or unusual. That is completely normal. Therefore, write down anything that you may struggle to remember and every day, you do your best to recall those specific terms, and over the span of even two days you will most likely incorporate even the most difficult words.

II. Repeat out loud: in my university, we do not have written exams. Therefore, practicing your speech for the exam is fundamental for us. However, even if your exams are not oral, explaining out loud subjects helps you remember them better (even if you give a look to your notes from time to time). Do this from day one of preparation. My favourite way of doing so is to repeat everything when outside, while on a walk or at a cafe.

III. Mental connections: chances are, some topics will be repeated in different ways in the same subject. For instance, the concept of inter-subjective laws was discussed three times in this one course, and each time a different aspect was discussed. What I am suggesting is that, when a particular topic or word comes up often, you force yourself to do two things: first, you do a repetition exercise in which you repeat where and when was that topic already mentioned, and second, you differentiate between the two. Why are they different, how are they different and in what ways they are similar.

IV. During the lectures: our professors do not record lectures, nor do they use any platform to “stream” them. If it is possible for you, attend the lectures! Take careful notes and correct them right away, after the lectures has finished! Ask those questions, no matter how “silly” they may be! The professor is right there for you, so you might as well use the opportunity to enrich your knowledge.

V. The notes: print them. Not only will your eyes thank you, but I find studying from paper more effective and it is easier to focus. Call me a grandma, but that is the truth. And if correcting some parts is the reason you prefer digital, try to simply cover the parts tg at you wish to rewrite eight plain paper and write the correction on it. This way the topic will be easier to be remembered.

VI. Audiobook: this may sound unusual, but listening to your notes can be quite beneficial. Due to me being a student, I have free access to the Microsoft package: world has this “read aloud” feature, and I play the audio during the night. The subconscious mind is much more powerful than what you may think of it.

VII. Grades: obviously we all aim for the greatest grades, but often the way we are graded may be out of your control. Sometimes you may get sick right before the exam, sometimes the examiner may be irritated and got up already upset with the world, sometimes we could have given better performances. It happens, and it will inevitably make you feel awful and out of place: please, remember to be kind and gentle with yourself. It will be better the next time, but in that moment remember that you are never alone. If you do not wish to talk it out with someone, ask ChatGPT. It really gives comfort and great advices in moments of frustration and disappointment. Do not ruin your life for a temporary moment.

‘Children of Shatila’ (Lebanon, 1998) film by Mai Masri. Final scene where the children of the camp are asked in a workshop how they would paint Palestine.

Cultivate some fucking discipline.

Some people can ignore their obligations for weeks, but not you. Some people let opportunity pass for lack of trying, but not you. Some people are content to wade through confusion and disorganization to finish every minor task, but not you. Some people are ok with wasting their precious time on endless distractions, but not you. Some people don't address their issues, but not you. You give a damn. You want to fucking do better.

That's what makes you different.

I genuinely feel ashamed that all I can do is write words while more and more Arab people die - but momentum for fundraisers is one of very few things any of us can do at the moment

Please donate to the Sameer Project. They are doing amazing work on the ground. Try to do what you can. Sharing and donating as little as 5 dollars can culminate into a big difference. I have enough of a following to know that we can make a truly big difference if this didn’t simply go ignored bc people decided they’re bored now