In a week’s time, around 6,000 examinees will again troop De La Salle University in Taft Avenue to test their mettle and eventually hurdle what most people describe as the toughest exam in the country—the Bar Examinations.
I can still recall how I felt the anxiety building up on me while I was preparing for the said exam last year. Having experienced it myself (and hurdling it!) all I can say is that the Bar Examinations is everything an ideal exam is supposed to be—a test not only of the intellectual kind, but also of the physical and emotional.
While I reserve the right of providing bar tips to the “esteemed” bar reviewers (believe me, some of them don’t understand what they are talking about, so be discerning), I would just like to share some practical pointers about the exam and my parting words for the future lawyers of our land. (For these pointers, I wish to express my gratitude to my lawyer-friend Atty. Angelo and to my review buddy Atty. Perry who shared with me their views and opinion during my bar review.)
Don’t Take the Bar Exams For Granted
I suppose you already know this one, but it is still best to remind everyone about the nature of the Bar Exams. Passing and failing the exams would define your future (whether immediate or otherwise). It is also the culminating event in your four-year stint in law school as a student. It is also the only way for one to become what you have been preparing for the last four years—to be a lawyer.
You may be wondering—why the need to remind us about the importance of the Bar Exams? Here’s why: some of the bar examinees have the belief that they can pass the exam without really doing their best. I’m sure you have heard about this during law school—barristers who tend to be lax in their bar review passed the exam while those who have devoted their entire six months after graduation in reviewing did not make it.
While passing or failing the exam may be a result of various factors (luck included) let me remind you that that there is nothing to lose when one diligently prepares for the Bar Exams. At least the only regret one could say when one fails is that his preparation was not enough. All he has to do next time is to add up to what he already knows. Just think about the situation when one did not prepare for the Bar Exams. If he passes, well and good; if he does not, he only has himself and his enormous ego to blame.
Read Everything That Needs To Be Read
Don’t just try to read everything, do everything to be able to read everything.
Sounds impossible? Well, yes it is. But looking back I thought that this was one of the best pointer I received during my bar review.
Knowing that one has read everything that needs to be read makes one confident that no matter what question the examiner may throw at him, he can pick out an idea and provide a reasonable answer to such question.
One may argue that every Bar Exam should be taken as is, meaning the existence of “crazy” questions in the exams depends on the choice of the Bar Chairman. While I agree with such point, still there is no reason not to anticipate such questions in the first place. Besides, as I have said earlier, there is nothing to lose when one properly prepares for the exam.
Don’t Just Read Anything
This pointer should go hand in hand with the previous one. While I encourage bar examinees to read everything that needs to be read, one should still be discerning enough to concentrate on materials that require your entire time and devotion. As much as possible, stick to materials you are familiar with and concentrate on them. By doing so, you prevent yourself from being confused with all the materials around you and makes you in control of your time.
Slay the “First Sunday Monster”
Anxiety before the bar exams is absolutely normal. One’s anxiety, however, goes to its most critical level as the first Sunday of the exam approaches.
So how does one get over what I call the “First Sunday Monster?” The only way to manage such anxiety is to prepare oneself for the exam—physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Knowing that the bar examinee has thoroughly prepared to take the exam builds up his confidence and eventually lessens his anxiety.
What is not normal though is to doubt yourself that you cannot pass the bar exams. Every barrister can pass the bar exams. It only depends on how one prepared himself to become a lawyer.
Avoid Negative Vibes
This pointer may sound absurd to some of you, but even if it’s not during the Bar Exams one should consider doing this tip anyway.
Remember how we were told not to approach babies when we feel tired, sick or frustrated because it will make them feel the same way too? Well, that principle may hold true even to adults. Negative energy is contagious like a disease—it spreads like wildfire and wreaks havoc to anyone afflicted with it.
So how does this relate to the Bar Exams? Just think about this: would you, the bar examinee, allow yourself to be afflicted with negative vibes as you take the Bar Exams and allow such negativity to affect the result of your exam? I would assume your answer would be a big definite NO.
Think positively. Never doubt about your capacity to endure a whole month of gruelling tests. Never consider yourself unworthy to become a lawyer someday. You have come this far in your quest to become a lawyer—there is no going back.
Pray
Lastly and most important of all, never think that passing the Bar Exams all depends on you, and YOU alone. There is still someone who would eventually decide your fate—GOD.
The least that one could do before taking the Bar Exams is to offer it to Him, and allow His wisdom to guide you through the questions posed before you. Ask for His guidance and strength as you prepare and eventually thread through a whole month of gruelling exams. Lastly, offer Him your gratitude for the graces and blessings He has showered on you while preparing for the Exams, and for all the graces and blessing yet to come.
To all bar examinees, I wish you all good luck and may God bless you as you take the Bar Exams. See you all soon, compañeros and compañeras!