No Compromise

Test Day (Testing For The Bar)

Dema, Victor, Luke and I, have all been studying for this day for 4 years. My alarm went off way too early after a late night of Horsemen. But I was ready.

If you ever have to cram for a test, you have not been active in the class. I felt excited and relaxed at the same time as I felt the weight of the last 4 years being lifted off of my shoulders. I knew that I was graduating debt free unlike so many others who came before me and Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness scam had nothing to do with it. I entered school paying off $800,000.00 of any tuition before the year stated. That money came from the Army's reward money and the fact that while you are in combat you aren't spending money. I worked as a paralegal to pay for rent and food. I set myself up for financial success by making my decisions according to the mission in play. However, Dema, Victor and Luke did not have such luck in life. Still I know that they will make good on their debts.

As I approached the classroom where the test would be held, a campus cop check us in and took any bag that we had.

"Thank you for coming." The guard said to me. "I need you state ID and for you to fill out this form and please have your payment ready to give me when you hand back the form."

"$1000.00 for the National Bar Exam and $500.00 for each state you wish to be licensed to practice law in. This country nickel and dimes you to death till the day you die." I thought to myself as I handled back the payment and documents.

"Everything is in order. Thank Mr. Anatoliciva. Now have a seat in the classroom." I smiled and nodded. This was the last test of my college career and the only thing I had planned that day. So I to the first seat next to the door and waited for the test to begin.

This chapter may seem like it is mostly about money but there is a point behind that Everything we do in life has a consequence or it should anyway. If we spend all night at a party and never pick up a book, we should not be surprised when we fail our classes in school. In the real world you have to pay for licensing everything from working in a restaurant to having a Medical Practice. If you are willing to waste money on booze or drugs but will not invest in yourself for a job, you probably deserve to be homeless. My mind started racing as the time got closer.

The time finally came and the computer screens lit up. "Your username is the first letter of you first name a dash and your last name. your password is your student ID number dash the last four of your social security number." The instructor told us.

The test was made up of both multiple choices and written essay questions. There were 50 questions and you were given an hour to finish the test. Very little of the test came as a surprise which was a bit of a relief. I guess I was a bit anxious after all.

The test came and went and a week later those of us who took the test in that small room in Sever Hall would get the results in the mail and if you passed you would get your Bar Car in the mail from both the National Bar Association and which ever state you paid to test in. I remember racing to the mailbox every day, until it came.

Finally the mail we were all looking for did come all at once. We all passed and we're licensed to practice law in New York.