Life is unfair.

While growing up we are frequently reminded how "life isn't fair." Most of the time this oft repeated phrase is mentioned, we have done something right, something that we were asked to do-and still are not rewarded.

We take refuge in the longstanding myth that hard work always equals success. It is the myth that the American dream is based on. Don't you think it should be this way? If you work hard and long enough then surely you may have a bite of the pie, the white picket fence, the 2.5 kids, and the dog. Oh, I almost forgot. The hard and long work must be achieved without complaining of any type. I mean, come on, your grandfather NEVER complained about working 12 hour shifts at the steel mill, so what the hell are you crying about....right?

This past semester reminded me of this important lesson. After a highly successful spring semester last year, I shared the important honor of being selected for Moot Court with only 25 other "lucky" 1Ls (first year law students, for those of you lucky enough to NOT attend law school.) In Moot Court, you essentially tackle a legal issue with another teammate. A problem, which is created by the organization sponsoring it. You get a record (essentially a bunch of facts) and the question (the legal issue presented). You spend the next two months of your life assembling a brief (your argument for one side) and then you prepare an oral argument that will be argued at the competition. Your brief is scored along with your arguments. Based on the scores, you advance or you are eliminated. Exciting.

Long story-short, I rewrote my section of the brief at least ten times, and without constructive advice from my beloved professor. This professor made terrible comments to me in emails such as that I am "a complete failure" and my brief was "simply terrible." Literally no elaboration. He threatened to not let us submit our brief because of MY failure, etc. Well, we ended up submitting the brief and competing. There were 27 teams competing including us. We managed to get through the first two rounds and at the end of the first night we were ranked 9th. Not bad. We progressed to the round of 16 which was held the next day. Despite our very good performance there, we did not advance. However, I felt proud of what I had accomplished and felt validated from his criticisms. He said "goodbye" and "good job." We enjoyed the rest of our weekend.

Fast forward a week later.....

On a Friday, I opened my inbox to discover a response to an email that I had been blind-carbon copied on from my beloved professor. He was responding to an email that had casually asked him how the competition went. He responded using all of our names and "complete failure" in the same sentence. He vowed to revamp the program so this would "never happen again."

Soon after, a follow-up email to me ensued with a letter attached. The letter attachment told me that I would not be on next year's Moot Court team due to "not satisfactorily completing a Moot Court competition." I was angry, hurt, and frustrated. I had pretty much decided that I would not participate in the program next year, but I wanted to be the one who quit...not "fired."

Even though I am still angry, hurt, and dealing with the leftovers of this unnecessary emotional abuse, I am determined to not let it stop me from believing in myself. In life, no one tells you that you will be dealing with people like this. Even if they did, you would not believe it until you experience it for yourself. "Life is unfair" is for the kid that for one reason or another does not get to go to the movies or get the toy. It can't be for the hardworking, determined adult...right? Wrong.

So what's the point? The point must be that you do not do things to get the "prize." You do things because you believe in it or at the very least you finish your obligations. I choose to see the silver lining, but even that is not necessary. We do not deserve success even if it seems that only justice would require it. The pursuit of success is where the "prize" truly is. It is this journey where lessons are learned. The end of that journey, triumph or fail, is only one small fraction of the story.

So next time you think, "life is unfair," ask yourself, what did I learn? If the answer is "nothing," you did not fully experience the journey.