Hello, all. Let's talk today about traveling to and from "the party" using public transportation. Public transportation includes bus or metropolitan subway system, or any other form of citywide transportation.
1. Get a Bus Schedule. Please. Do not wait to make a call on your cellphone to learn what time the bus arrives in the morning, or that evening. You don't want to be late to the bar prep course that is already in session, while you wrestle with your books, computer and other items, before you quickly squeeze into a seat, while learning is in session.
2. Be Ahead of The Bus. Even with a schedule, arrive to the bus stop five to ten minutes earlier than its posted arrival time. Some bus drivers are early; others are late. We want to be at the bus stop if the driver is early.
3. Metro Cards. Ask someone in your family to "fill you up," financially, with tokens or whatever type of pass that is used on the bus or railway system. Take whatever it is that they offer you and be happy.
4. Studying On The Bus. It is not a good idea to try to study on the bus. Too many distractions, even if you have earplugs that reach from one ear to the other. You are trying to juggle all of the items that you brought to the library on one leg, balance the multiple choice questions on the other leg, plug up your ears so that you can concentrate on one question during a 30 minute ride, and you just so happened to have sat next to "perspiration man." Something (or, someone) is going to give. Soon. Use the ride on the bus to send the 1,000 text messages a day you normally write each day, to telephone someone who is not studying for the July bar exam, or to return calls to your priority list folk (the people that take front and center in your life). Or, just grab a window seat and stare out into space for the entire bus ride (especially if you are heading home). Nothing says peace and quiet like a noisy city bus at 10:00 p.m., after a good long day of testing and preparing outlines.
5. Napping on the Bus. If you decide to nap on the bus, set the timer on your cell so that it goes off five minutes before you arrive at your destination. I have, unfortunately, been caught on the last line of the subway system at 3:45 a.m. Yes, I have had to walk two or three miles, on a few occasions, when I've fallen asleep on the local subway train. It can be an long walk, but an even longer one when you have 15+ pounds of books on your back.
6. Passengers: we are all concerned about our safety, so be cordial, but careful. If someone has had too much to drink, be careful how you interact with this person. You don't want someone to become attached and try to follow you home. Yes, it happens. It also happens to those of use who have mental maladies, too. I am no doctor, but a person with schizophrenia who is not taking medications consistently, may show some erratic behavior. None of us are featured physicians on Diagnosis.MD, but we are all caretakers of our own lives. Correct? Keep your eyes open and ears alert. Try to stand with a group of people while traveling and waiting for a bus (if you don't want to stand out.
7. Did Not Take the Bus Today (Waiting for A Scheduled Pick-Up)? Stay in touch with the person who is supposed to pick you up, by telephone. Let the person know (before you leave the library's study corner) where you will be and how long you will be. And, be there. Make a decision that you will wait a little longer or leave after a certain time period, if the ride has not arrived within a reasonable time period.
There is nothing that frustrates a non-car owner more than a person who says he or she will offer a ride home, but the person does not show. You will be angry, frustrated, mad, etc. You have to release (or, let go) of the anger, as soon as possible. This is the only way that you can take back your night. It's important to know that person is safe, but your sanity is important, as well. Don't spend your very important two hours in the evening arguing with someone about where you were and where that person should have been. Spend that time rejuvenating yourself for the next day. When you do have time to reflect on the "driver," ask yourself is this person consistently adding to my bar exam experience or taking away from it. If the answer is the latter of the two, then you know what you must do. That person will have to be given another title, at least right now, until your bar exam experience is complete.
Always weigh your options; lean toward efficiency.
Thank you,
Prof. Smith
There is nothing that frustrates a non-car owner more than a person who says he or she will offer a ride home, but the person does not show. You will be angry, frustrated, mad, etc. You have to release (or, let go) of the anger, as soon as possible. This is the only way that you can take back your night. It's important to know that person is safe, but your sanity is important, as well. Don't spend your very important two hours in the evening arguing with someone about where you were and where that person should have been. Spend that time rejuvenating yourself for the next day. When you do have time to reflect on the "driver," ask yourself is this person consistently adding to my bar exam experience or taking away from it. If the answer is the latter of the two, then you know what you must do. That person will have to be given another title, at least right now, until your bar exam experience is complete.
Always weigh your options; lean toward efficiency.
Thank you,
Prof. Smith
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