We’re So Much More than Pointless Fixtures*

[Prelude: I wrote this first paragraph back in August and haven’t had anywhere to place it, until now]. I recently attended the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia, a 2-day celebration of music curated by the rapper Jay-Z, with artists spanning several genres of music performing on three different stages. The experience was unforgettable, especially because I was introduced to many artists who, through their live performances, made me an instant fan. The highlight, though, was the end of Day one when Beyoncé headlined. The performance was phenomenal, from beginning to end, which was to be expected. Roughly three weeks before the festival, I met someone who had attended the D.C. stop of the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. I asked her how the concert was, and she described it as “truly phenomenal, [because you get] to see a talented woman at the top of her game doing what she was put on this earth to do.”

Since I entered law school, and even more so since I’ve left, I have been trying to figure out what it is I’m supposed to do with my life. More importantly, trying to figure out how to be the best at something like Beyoncé.

Are you happy with yourself? 

First things first: Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter released her fifth album, Beyoncé, last week.  The album came out with no official single, no promotion, no announcement, and no advanced warning. The entire roll out was surprising and amazing. (If you’re interested, the album itself is also really good. Buy it.)

Anyway, the release of the album, and Beyoncé’s “Strategy” for 2013 has a lot of lessons.

The most important thing that I’ve learned in the last six days? Let your work speak for itself. Since before the Super Bowl, I’ve been wondering when she was going to release a new song and reassert her musical dominance. In various interviews she alluded to the fact that she was working on her art on her time, and that those of us who didn’t get it would need to wait.

And wait we did, but it wasn’t easy. I can’t speak for all of her fans, but I grew frustrated. Tired. Annoyed. I eventually got over her and settled on music from artists I neither liked nor really enjoyed.

Does this sound…familiar?

But Nothing I Know Could Slow Us Down

It should, because my exasperation with the wait for this album directly correlates with the struggle that is life after law school graduation. Stick with me, and I promise it will make sense. And if not, at least I found a way to sneak Beyonce on to Law Street.  

The Anticipation

• February 2013: Beyoncé performs at the Super Bowl. Kills it.
• May 2013: We graduate from law school.  We kill it.

Preparation

• April 2013: After two months of intense rehearsals and preparation, Beyoncé embarks on the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
• July 2013: After two months of intense studying and preparation, we take the bar exam.

Waiting

• September 2013: The world tour goes on a short hiatus, which has many thinking that a new single is coming!
• October-November 2013: Thousands of recent graduates await the results of the oppressively heinous bar exam. The results come out around Halloween; many students are happy, many are pissed.

Rejoice

• December 13, 2013, 12:00am EST: The link to buy BEYONCÉ on iTunes pops up out of nowhere. Christmas miracle much?
• December 2013-January 2014: Recent law school graduates are beginning to see the light.  Jobs are coming, our real careers are beginning, and 2014 is right around the corner.

“I Woke Up Like This” 

Here’s the thing. I will let anyone know that 2013 has been a difficult year. I’ve done my best to be upbeat, and I’ve optimistically claimed 2014 as “the greatest year of my life thus far” (I’m speaking it into existence).

Beezy taught me

Beyonce’s lessons teach me that I don’t need to tell everyone about 2014. Instead, I need to let it be what it will be: an overall good year. All it takes is a lot of hard work, determination, positivity, productivity, and avoiding the downer moments that seemed to permeate these last twelve months. I can do it! We can do it! 2014 is THE year everyone, I feel it.

And thanks to Beyoncé, we’ve got a BANGIN soundtrack to what will be an awesome year.

Bow down. All hail King Bey. She loves you like XO.

*Can you name all of the BEYONCÉ lyrical references?

—

Peter Davidson is a recent graduate of law school who rants about news & politics and raves over the ups & downs of FUNemployment in the current legal economy. Tweet him @PeterDavidsonII.

Featured image courtesy of [idrewuk via Flickr]

[All .gifs courtesy of MTV Buzzworthy and RealityTVgifs]

Peter Davidson II

Peter Davidson is a recent law school graduate who rants about news & politics and raves over the ups & downs of FUNemployment in the current legal economy. Contact Peter at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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