04/07/2021
LOOK: Barista Solutions features San Sebastian Law Journal Editor-in-Chief Catherine Joy Esteves. In the feature, she shares her struggles as a working student who fought to stay in law school.
Congratulations, Catherine!
STUDENTS' CORNER | BARRISTA SOLUTIONS
Looking back at your law school journey, what lessons have you learned along the way?
"One of the biggest lessons I have learned during my law school journey is that everyone has his/her own timeline. It is important to remember not to compare yours with others.
In my case, it took me 6 years from college graduation before finally deciding to enter law school. Back then, I knew that it would have been financially challenging for my family if I went straight to law school. So, I had to set aside my law school ambition for work. I worked at a law firm and then at a private company. Interestingly, I ended up getting legal work either as legal secretary or assistant. Those jobs became the constant reminder of my then fading law school dream.
In 2016, I finally enrolled myself at the San Sebastian College of Law. I always felt excited during the first few months in law school until it finally hit me: juggling work with law school is exhausting. In between semesters, I would jump from one agency to another. But after four and a half years in law school, I am finally graduating this July. Not late, but JUST THE RIGHT TIME."
How did you manage your work and your studies while staying on the Dean's List along the way?
"My mantra is: โEyes on the prize and do whatever it takes to get it.โ Like other working students, the biggest challenge had been the lack of material time to finish all the reading assignments to survive the grueling recitations during class.
I have my fair share of bad recitations and failed exams. In fact, there were days when I would come to class totally unprepared and would consider quitting from law school because I was already tired, mentally and physically. But I would always look back to all my struggles and sacrifices I made as well as the small wins along the way to uplift my spirit and regain my focus. I would also remind myself of the very reason why I entered law school in the first placeโ pangarap ko โto at ng pamilya ko โ to get me back on track the next day.
Suffice to say, there is really no perfect formula on surviving law school, especially so when you are a working student. Finishing law school in four and a half years as a working student in the first 3 years was just beyond my imagination. That is why, for me, being able to do so is in itself an achievement already.
Just remember, "Winners never quit and quitters never win." In bad days, umiyak ka lang, magwalwal ka din, pero kinabukasan aral ka na. KAYA LABAN LANG."
** Catherine Joy P. Esteves obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the San Sebastian College - Recoletos College of Law. She also took her MA in Urban and Regional Planning, UP SURP Diliman as a member of Batch 2016. She also graduated with a degree in BA Political Science at UP Diliman, Batch 2010
She served as an Executive Assistant for the Commission on Elections and the Presidential Commission on Good Government. She also served as a Legal Researcher for the Commission on Elections and a Legal Officer for the Department of Health.
