With graduation just around the corner, I decided it was the perfect time to re-watch one of my favorite movies of all time—Legally Blonde. As I watched Elle Woods deliver her commencement speech, it finally hit me that law school really is coming to a close for me. How did three years go by so quickly?

When I first joined Impact during my 1L year, I had hoped that my final post would be about all of my favorite memories of my time at law school. Three rounds of Ski Trip, Law Prom, and Softball. Funny stories from countless bar reviews where the whole school decided to take a break from studying and gathered at a bar downtown. Long nights at the library trying to cram for a final in solidarity with my classmates, and on-campus events that always led to free lunch.

But sadly, that is not what happened. When the pandemic first hit, nobody had any idea how long things would be different, or how long we would be home. I remember first hearing whispers in March 2020 that “this will just be two weeks.” I even intended to be back in April to celebrate my birthday with friends. Then, all of a sudden, it’s been over a year of this, and things still aren’t back to normal. The vaccine rollout brings hope, but my classmates and I still won’t get the in-person graduation with all of our friends and families that we worked so hard to earn (and so much deserve).

Of course, there are way more important things going on than being disappointed with how law school is wrapping up, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that this was not the law school experience any of us hoped for. I chose to go to BC Law because, like many, I was drawn to the unique community that it offered. I had heard from many people that BC Law is “different”. That people who go there actually enjoy their time at law school. That people make lifelong friends, and talk about things other than school. That you get to join one of the strongest alumni networks out there. And even amidst the pandemic, I’ve found this all to be true. I can’t imagine going to any other law school.

Looking back on my time at BC Law, I still truly believe these were some of the best years of my life. I’ve met some of the greatest people, including friends, future colleagues, professors, mentors, and many more. I’ve had countless unique experiences and opportunities, and have BC to thank for allowing me to dive into a career I’m excited about. And even though many things have been virtual, I still feel like my classmates and I have formed an irreplaceable bond over these past three years, and were lucky to get 1.5 years in-person. So, in reflecting on all of this, I realize that my disappointment really only exists because I wish we had more of the BC Law experience. Is it weird to love law school this much?

So, for those of you considering BC Law or currently at BC, I am hopeful that you will be able to enjoy all that makes normal times at BC so special. It’s not just about going to class and doing well. It’s also about making friends, taking advantage of every opportunity, and joining this one-of-a-kind community.

And for those of us graduating, I think we proved that even a pandemic can’t break our bonds, and I can’t wait to see where all of us end up going. I know that, no matter what city I’m in, I’ll be looking forward to keeping in touch with all the people I met along the way at BC.

So with that: Congratulations Class of 2021–we did it!

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Courtney Ruggeri is a graduating third-year law student, and president of the Impact blog. Reach her at ruggeric@bc.edu.