Last week, amidst the frenzy of trying to finish my final memo, I crafted what I thought to be a fantastic plan for the upcoming Thanksgiving break: lock myself in my apartment until I develop a miraculous understanding of the rules of civil procedure, frantically apply for as many jobs as humanly possible, and purchase a pumpkin pie to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Now that I’ve submitted my memo and the initial mania has subsided somewhat, I can tell that the overconsumption of pie is likely the only realistic part of that plan. This is the paradox of Thanksgiving break for law students—on one hand, everyone is relieved to have some time off. On the other, it doesn’t really feel like a break with the looming threat of finals hanging over all of us. 

Everyone in law school is on edge in November. A few days ago, I failed miserably trying to assemble a $20 bookshelf that I impulsively ordered off of Amazon and nearly burst into tears as a result. How am I supposed to figure out impleader versus interpleader when I can’t build a simple shelf? Add in the stress of the expedited job application process and a completely barren fridge because you haven’t had time to go grocery shopping and you have a guaranteed recipe for distress. Not exactly an ideal Thanksgiving feast.

Moreover, this is my first Thanksgiving that I’ll be spending away from home. Not leaving for the holiday makes the week feel less like a vacation and further heightens the pressure to be productive. I chose to stay here in Boston because I didn’t feel like I had the time to fly all the way back to Oregon for just a few days right before finals. Now, I feel a massive obligation to make that decision worthwhile. 

Despite all my worries, as I approach my last few days of class for the semester, I’ve been coming to terms with the fact that I can take a breath during this break and still be just fine. Yes, maybe in an ideal world I would transform into an outline-producing machine this week and conquer all of my classes in one fell swoop. Realistically, though, I know that setting this expectation for myself will only heighten my anxiety and make it harder to appreciate the smaller triumphs. Reviewing for one class or submitting one job application is nothing to scoff at, nor is taking some time for yourself. 

Every day, I’ve been finding small ways to find comfort during these stressful times, whether it be taking half an hour to eat lunch with friends before shuffling off to our respective spots in the library or going to bed early instead of dozing off at my desk over my Contracts textbook. This Thanksgiving, I hope everyone is able to carve out some time that’s not wholly dedicated to maximum productivity. Here’s to a break with hopefully more turkey, less turmoil, and just the right amount of Torts outlining.

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Sydney Byun is a first-year student and brand new Impact blogger at BC Law. Contact her at byunsy@bc.edu.