By: Haesoo Yoon
It was Monday, August 17th, and I was incessantly checking the time and converting EST (Eastern Standard Time) to KST (Korea Standard Time). Since the New Student Orientation began at 9:30am EST and ended at 6:00pm EST, I would be participating from Monday 10:30pm to Tuesday 7:00am in Korea. Little did I know, I would keep up this lifestyle for both the fall and spring semesters.
This past year was particularly challenging to everyone for many reasons. Personally, it meant attending law school remotely from the other side of the world as a full-time day student. It would be a lie if I said that I never considered taking a leave of absence or that the time difference did not affect me during the past year. It was not easy, and it did not get easier, but I learned to adapt. I learned to ask for help from my colleagues, TAs, and professors.
To anyone who will be learning remotely—online and across timezones—or simply want to get your law school learning off to a great start, I offer five tips that will contribute to your success:
- Download an Electronic Calendar App: Designate a calendar for school purposes on your phone, tablet, or computer. I entered all class schedules, TA review sessions, and study group meetings into the school Outlook calendar with default alerts 30 minutes before each class. The time automatically adjusts to your physical location. This also ensured that I check my school email two to three times each day on the Outlook app. It is hard for anyone to stay engaged with a 100% online school setting, but having such a calendar or email app will help to simulate the in-person school environment.
- Network: It can be difficult to set aside time to network with all readings and assignments, but try your best to meet upperclassmen and alumni. Here are some ideas! Set a goal to get to know at least two TAs. Show up to your Lexis Nexis student representative’s office hours. Sign up for mentoring programs through different clubs. If you know your interest areas, ask your mentors to connect you with fellow colleagues in that practice area. Don’t be shy because I found that everyone was more than willing to virtually network and the time difference was always a great ice breaker to start the conversation.
- Communicate with Professors: As a Suffolk Law student, you have access to the most inspiring and helpful professors. Go meet ASP Professors through zoom appointments for extra help in classes. Go talk to your professors for extra guidance and advice in school or life. Go ask your LPS Professor for clarification on comments on memos. What worked best for me was to offer a wide range of time slots that would work for me with the time difference, allowing professors to choose a time that also was convenient for them outside of their normal office hours.
- Ask for Help: Do not be afraid to be an advocate for yourself. After all, if you cannot be an advocate for yourself, how will you be an advocate for someone else? Go ask for help. Remember, your professors care about your performance which means they care for your wellbeing. Even if you do not know what to ask for, professors always have suggestions or ideas coming from their years of experience—just admit you need help and talk to them.
- Take Care of Your Health: Do not push yourself past your physical limitations. This goes hand in hand with asking for help. There was a number of times when I had to ask for a professor’s permission to catch up with a recording, especially for classes that began after 3:00am KST. Your health comes first, and you know yourself better than anyone else; you must take care of yourself.
As an anxious 1L, I was worried about the challenges of learning off-campus. However, designating a school calendar made me proactive and organized. Networking, through the methods I shared above, changed my time difference struggle into a positive ice-breaker. Most importantly, communicating with my colleagues, TAs, and professors through meetings helped simulate an in-person school environment. With these tips, you are now also empowered to take care of yourself as a distance learner!
While I will not have to worry about figuring out time zones when I’m on campus this fall, I fully intend to continue these practices to stay organized and engaged in school. There are many ways to foster a sense of belonging in school, and you can apply these tips to have a positive and meaningful learning experience regardless of your location.