Much love, Shaudeh Farjami

Law school is teaching me things I expected—like case law, Pennoyer v. Neff, the most effective energy drinks, and how to read until I hit rock bottom exhaustion. But it’s also teaching me things I didn’t expect, like navigating a classroom full of strong voices, subtle cues, and the pressure to belong while consumed by imposter syndrome. 

It starts small: nodding along even when I’m not entirely convinced by the majority opinion, smiling back at a classmate who gets cold called so they feel supported, and slowly lowering my hand last minute because I don’t want to sound “too much.”

And part of it is the newness. No one here knows me. Every classroom, every conversation, every friendship is a blank slate. There’s freedom in that, but also pressure. When no one has a history with you, you start wondering: How do I show up fully, while still staying true to myself?

Here’s what I’m learning: it’s about showing up with my real questions, my real ideas, my raw curiosity—even when it feels risky. Growth comes not from dimming down, but from leaning into that uncertainty, from giving myself permission to be myself in a space that doesn’t yet know me.

Some mornings I sit in class with a coffee in hand, listening to brilliant classmates, and feel the familiar whisper of doubt. A latte doesn’t erase it, but it keeps me grounded. Each sip reminds me: I worked for this. I belong here. Showing up authentically isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present.

And every day, I feel an even more invested. The law excites me, challenges me, and even makes me angry (much more often than I wish). Those feelings pull me in, make me lean closer. It’s about becoming someone who can hold complexity, stand in discomfort, and care deeply while still moving forward.

I have to acknowledge that it could not be a more interesting time to be a law student. In this field, one of the most important traits is being able to hold your own opinions while avoiding extremism—approaching discussion with balance, fairness, and an ability to see multiple sides. That skill feels especially critical right now, as law and society are being reshaped in real time.

Too often, people take education for granted and focus only on the struggle, forgetting what a rare privilege it is. Being a student and pursuing higher education is both a choice and a blessing, one I reaffirm every single day. For me, law school isn’t just another hurdle—it’s a dream I’ve carried for years, and I’m grateful to finally be living it. 

And while I do it for myself, I also carry the quiet hope of making my people proud—the ones who’ve cheered me on, believed in me, and never doubted that I could get here. That sense of connection, even from far away, reminds me who I am and why I keep showing up.

So here’s the mantra I’m carrying: You don’t have to please everyone to deserve your place here. My presence counts. And maybe authenticity isn’t about already being “the person I want to be”—it’s about letting myself grow into her, one class, one cold call, one discussion at a time.

Much love,
Shaudeh Farjami