Am I Still An Elle Woods?

'This isn't a perfect world. You think I haven't been judged my whole life? You think it wasn't a good idea to make navy my new pink?'


In my very first post in this blog, I quoted this line from Legally Blonde: The Musical, wherein Elle Woods convinces her buddy and legal colleague (and soon after, boyfriend) Emmett Forrest to tweak his looks a bit to be more situation-appropriate. 


I watched the MTV airing of this musical once again, and flashbacks of my first few months in law school comes back in my mind. I remember all of my struggles in dealing with numerous readings, recitations and exams. In particular, I have to deal with all that confusing jargon and argumentation tactics - something that I am lacking, I have to admit. I also have to deal with balancing time between my day job and my studies, especially during the time when I have to deal with monthly shift changes. 


Looking back, I really am an innocent fellow when it comes to law. But because I really want to learn, I took time to listen to lectures and read whatever readings are required, especially the basics of laws and cases. And of course, I'm really thankful to have my classmates around, where we help one another wherever one needs it. All of these make me understand the otherwise confusing world of law. 


Maybe I'm knowledgeable in law at this point, but only on a certain extent. After all, I'm just in my first year in law school. I still have three years or so to go before I graduate and take the Bar exams. And even after I pass the exams, law is continuously evolving to adapt to the demands of time. Thus, I have much more to learn. 


Probably, I'll always be an Elle Woods, in the sense that I'll never stop learning. But then, my legal knowledge will never change the things that define me as me. 

Do You Believe in Love?

In Legally Blonde: The Musical, the Harvard professor asks Elle Woods why she should be admitted in Harvard, even after a "very flashy presentation" because the former could "still don't see one reason to admit you (Elle)."

Here is what Elle sang to him:

How about love?
Have you ever been in love?
Cause if you have, you'll know
That love never accepts a defeat
No challenge it can't meet
No place it cannot go


Don't say no to a woman in love
Don't laugh when I say love
Don't think that I'm naive
Because even a person who's smart
Can listen to their heart
Can listen and believe
So believe in what love can achieve


Do you believe? (I do!)
Do you believe? (Me too!)
Yes, we believe in love!
How 'bout you?

And so I say the last two lines once again:

"I believe in love. How 'bout you?'


PS: By the way, that speech made Elle score a ticket to Harvard!

From Pink to Navy

'This isn't a perfect world. You think I haven't been judged my whole life? You think it wasn't a good idea to make navy my new pink?'

In the Broadway version of Legally Blonde, Elle Woods asks this question to her buddy Emmett Forrest to convince him to tweak his looks a bit to at least 'look the part if he wants to get ahead.' Sure he may have the smarts, but 'casual Fridays are so not in Callahan's vocabulary.' The same way, she asks this question to tell him that sometimes, you have to let go of a little part of your old self to make way to a more 'situation-appropriate' you.

And not long after, I realized that Elle does have a point. Because at one point of my law school life, there are some things in my old self that is not befitting to my new world, and I don't have much choice but to give them up. But it was all worth it, because I'm starting to get the hang of it. While I didn't start out exactly the right way, there is always room for improvement in the coming days, and all you have to do is to make the most of it - study hard but make sure to take time for your own personal growth.

So is making navy my new pink is a good idea?

I thought so.