by Shenellyn Pineda
There’s a strange silence that follows the words “laban lang.” It’s meant to comfort and encourage, but sometimes sounds more like a command. It’s as if there’s no space to feel the sting of failing a quiz, having a bad recitation, or carrying the weight of another night spent memorizing provisions you barely understand.
In a culture that glorifies strength and resilience, we’ve learned to keep going even when we’ve already reached our breaking point. That’s what law school often teaches us — emotions are a distraction. You fail a recit, and someone says, “okay lang yan, may next recit pa.” You flunk a quiz, and it’s “bawi tayo next time.” You hold back tears because everyone else seems to be holding it together. You swallow exhaustion, pour another cup of coffee, and remind yourself that there’s no time to feel sorry, only to keep fighting.
But do you know what law students love more than sleep? Coffee. The hot, steaming kind that fuels 9 AM classes, or the cold, iced one that keeps you awake through long, stretched-out nights. Maybe it’s a tool for survival, or maybe it’s not even about the drink at all. What if it’s really about the pause, the few quiet minutes between chaos and continuation spent browsing the menu? It’s in that brief stillness where we catch our breath, where the world stops demanding and simply allows us to exist.
On top of the fatigue and pressure, law students also battle society’s unrealistic standards. It’s not just about doing well in school anymore; it’s more about living a “balanced life.” The one where the look of composure, productivity, and achievements matters as proof that you’re “thriving.” Every scroll through social media reminds you of lives that seem perfect, and you can’t help but wonder if you are lagging behind. Between these facades and appearances, you slowly realize that “success” stops being about passion and instead becomes mere upkeep of maintaining an “image” for other people.
The truth is, we’re not machines built to act without falter. We are also humans who have highs and lows. So tonight, if your readings remain unfinished and your heart feels heavier than your book, permit yourself to rest. To pause, even in a world that demands perfection. Because at the end of every long day, beneath the armor you’ve built, you are still someone who dreams. One who’s just trying to become the person you’ve always hoped to be, and that in itself is more than enough.
THE BARRISTER 