From Logic Lessons to Life Lessons or Is This Nothing New?

I Have an Announcement

I guess this is my official announcement to the world: I’m going to law school! Specifically, UC Davis Law, Class of 2026. I haven't got in yet, but I am manifesting it and will be applying this November.

The journey to this point has been a challenging adjustment—balancing studying, working, and taking care of myself—but I’m slowly finding joy in the process. My curiosity keeps me going, and it’s exciting to see this dream of mine taking shape.

For the longest time, I didn’t believe I could become the person capable of earning a J.D., passing the bar, and living the life of an attorney. But now, it’s starting to feel real—and I have to admit, “Janessa, Attorney at Law” has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

All I do is stuDYING

As I prepare for the LSAT this coming April, I’ve been surprised (and a little frustrated) that my background in philosophy hasn’t been the advantage I expected—except for one class I nearly failed in my senior year: Philosophy 60. I won’t name the professor, but that class was brutal. When I tell you I was thrown in the deep end, I mean THRUSTED straight into the abyss. Every day was a battle; I felt so lost and helpless, and my brain went through mental gymnastics just trying to keep up.

Philosophy 60 was all about argument types, specifically propositional logic. If you’ve never heard of it, trust me—there’s a reason for that. I almost want to say a steppingstone to the LSAT but it really lacks the crash course in grammar parsing and dissecting conditional statements.

However, in the same manner of understanding sufficient and necessary relationships, analyzing whether claims were valid or invalid, and identifying what must be true based on given premises. Philosophy 60 did prepare me without me even knowing. The LSAT just takes it a step further and you’re expected to evaluate how well-supported (or poorly supported) these claims are in context—whether through causal logic, cost-benefit analysis, or reasoning by applying rules.

Propositional logic and conditional reasoning play a major role in this kind of thinking as a future attorney.

• Propositional logic is about understanding the relationships between entire statements or propositions, often using tools like "and," "or," "not," and "if-then." It operates in a truth-functional framework, meaning it evaluates whether statements are true or false and how their truth values interact. For example, to translate this proposition “If it is a pie, it is not a cake.” I would use the symbols, (P →~C) and the contrapositive (~P →C).

• Conditional reasoning focuses specifically on "if-then" statements and examines the relationship between conditions (antecedents) and results (consequents). For example, in the statement "If it rains, then the ground will be wet," conditional reasoning helps determine the implications of the antecedent (it is raining) on the consequent (the ground being wet). It’s often about understanding necessary and sufficient conditions. Which can be translated (R →WG) and the contrapositive (~R →~WG).

It’s a lot, isn’t it? Just explaining it feels like an exercise in mental gymnastics! But it’s also fascinating to see how these logical structures interconnect, especially in different contexts. It opened the flood gates for my love of wordplay and vocabulary. Even though I have been interested in writing and reading since I was a kid this took it to the next level in being tactful.

Always Been Inside

When starting anything new, I was overwhelmed at first. I couldn’t help but wonder how anyone—let alone me—could wrap their head around all of this. But slowly, I started to see patterns emerging in the stimulus. The more I practiced, the more I realized that formal logic isn’t just about solving puzzles; it’s about sharpening the way you think. It forces you to break things apart quickly and truly understand the connections between ideas to solve the question stem.

That said, the path I’ve taken to study and prepare has been anything but straightforward. It’s not some steady wave of progress, gently rising and falling. It’s more like a series of random peaks and sharp downfalls—moments where I feel on top of everything, only to find myself stuck in frustration the next day. Some days, it clicks, and I feel unstoppable. Other days, I can barely string two logical statements together without second-guessing myself.

It’s unpredictable, and honestly, that’s been one of the hardest parts. I’ve had to learn to embrace the chaos and trust the process, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense. Progress doesn’t always look like a straight line—it’s messy and nonlinear, full of unexpected breakthroughs and setbacks.

But here’s what I’ve realized: those random peaks and downfalls are part of the journey. Every high gives me a glimpse of what I’m capable of, and every low reminds me that growth comes from pushing through discomfort. The unpredictability keeps me curious, keeps me learning, and keeps me coming back to the challenge. In any lifetime it is a guarantee to experience the hardships, the joy, the boring stuff—that is life.

This realization has made studying for the LSAT feel less like an insurmountable task and more like building a foundation. Every argument I analyze, every logical flaw I uncover, brings me closer to the mindset I’ll need as a future lawyer. It’s not about knowing everything right now in this instance—it’s about learning to think critically, spot inconsistencies, and craft stronger arguments.

You Have to Chase Your Goals

That’s why I’ve been vibing to “BLOOM” by Doechii this week. It is a little different than what I usually do because I feel like instead of a song, we need affirmations. This track feels like a celebration of growth—messy, nonlinear, and unpredictable, much like my journey with logic and learning. It’s soulful, introspective, and layered, reminding me that every stage of life, whether a struggle or a triumph, is part of the process. If you haven’t heard it yet, let this be your guiding affirmation for 2025 to embracing the chaos and trusting the journey.

And here’s the thing: even though Philosophy 60 was one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken, it taught me something invaluable. Struggle isn’t failure—it’s growth. Looking back, I can see how those moments of confusion and frustration forced me to work harder and dig deeper. And now, as I face the LSAT and the challenges of law school ahead, I know I’m ready to do the same.

So, to anyone else out there grappling with something that feels impossible: keep going. Your progress might not be obvious in the moment, and the path might not look the way you thought it would, but every little step is part of the process. One day, you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come.

Enjoy This Journey With Me

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO