A Love Letter to all the Jim Halperts and Leslie Knopes of Law School
You've read the title,
You know the characters,
and you know their stories.
I feel like I have reached the point in my journey as a law student when it is time to give a shout out to all the Jim Halperts and Leslie Knopes of the workforce and university life. Because while the characters from the TV shows The Office and Parks & Recreation are fictional, it always amazes me that there are always real-life people among us that act like those characters. They make the real world that I live in a real world that I want to live in.
This love letter is essentially a thinly veiled character study article of two TV characters from a bygone era in network television that represent wholesome stereotypes about the workforce and university that are tremendously real. Real in the same way that Louis Litt, Dwight Schrute and Michael Scott characters exist because too much goodness in the world can't exist, otherwise we'd be living in a sitcom world. We live in the real world where the show doesn't end after 45 minutes. The show doesn't zoom in my face when I want to give my reaction to something or the show doesn't play a theme song when I start or end my day.
I'm really glad that Jims and Leslies (yes I'm on a first-name basis) exist. I used to be a Tom Haverford at the start of the semester, someone who is hyped and chill about everything but as uni progresses then I've suddenly become a Stanley Hudson, content with being content at waiting things out. Things are going to get rough when exams arrive but I'll always remember when the going gets tough the Jims and Leslies always remind me to love the work I do (Leslie) and to never take things too seriously (Jim). Above all, they taught me to value my friends, loved ones, and new people I meet every day plus any new experiences that come spiralling my way in the same way that holiday-themed episodes happen out of the blue. With that in mind, both characters are unique and each has different life lessons that I want to share. I'll start with the fabulous boss babes Leslies and then end with the lovable chill and cool Jims.
Leslies
I believe that people who unironically love the work or study they do are genuinely superheroes or at least I like to think so when I'm in my Stanley Hudson mood. Don't get me wrong, I choose to do a law and IT degree and I choose to work in this industry because I genuinely want to be in this field, however, there are times that I feel like I don't want to and usually, these are moments in the middle of assessments or exams. I call these moments the "not that time of the semester" periods akin to The Office's "Scotts Totts" or Parks and Rec's "The Comeback Kid" episodes. Like these episodes, I know these moments are only temporary and that I can get over assessments - but it's hard man.
What the Leslies at work and in my study group (similar to Community's) do is remind me how far I've come in my life. They help me to look back at my achievements because they know that I (and everyone else) can always bounce back from a bad situation to a good one using the very same strong will and reasons why I choose to do law. They tell me that the grind is always worth it as each new experience is a feather in your cap that you can proudly show off and that any feelings of imposter syndrome is something you can deal with as you know in yourself why you choose to do law and that you know you can achieve great things even if it sometimes comes with time and hard lessons. They tell me that the secret about loving work or study is to make work or study as fun and chill as possible, which I try to apply to my life as much as I can. They also tell me it's okay to feel sad about things as long as I never give up. I know with these lessons, I'll always be on the right path in life wherever life takes me.
I respect the Leslies because they know what it takes to make a journey like studying law. They are like big sisters to me that look out for me at work or at university and I love them for it because one day I know that I'll be a big brother to other students or graduates when it's my turn to be a boss babe.
Jims
Jims, on the other hand, remind me that life isn't always meant to be serious and that it's okay to take a chill approach to work and university as long as you get the job done one way or the other—it's fine. Life isn't meant to be serious at all and this is a serious lesson that Jims always teach me through their cool-headed ways and it's a mojo that I want to replicate rather than stressing about everything and anything about work or university. Wouldn't it be great to be so chill and live life without anxiety?
If things get too tense, they would always be the ones to post a dank meme, pull a prank, banter like heck or be the first one to help out when you or the workplace needs help. They are legends at making you feel welcome, ensuring the job gets done and making your day just really bright and cheerful. Without a doubt, if workplaces or universities didn’t have any Jims, the mood in these places would be dreary and soul-sucking. While it's great to be ambitious and have a strong resolve, it's also really great to have a laugh and have good times every now and then with these legends. They know how to make life fun while also having meaning - that's a combo for a good time while still being right on track at uni or at work.
Despite law being a difficult course to study and the legal industry itself also being a daunting place to work in, the Jim Halperts and Leslie Knopes always know how to make me feel welcome and settled in. When I graduate I hope to be as cool-headed as Jim and as wholesome about work and life as Leslie after meeting people like this in real life. I know that I'm talking about stereotypes and characteristics about people but you know in your heart that Jims and Leslies exist among us so don't be afraid to show your appreciation to them or your friends or anyone else you love. A little appreciation for people other than yourself makes the real world that we all live in, a real world that we all want to live in as it is one where we feel valued and appreciated.
Article by Gideon Caturla
This article appeared in the The Gavel #1 ‘The Among Us Issue’ (2021) Publication