South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 9, April, 1984 Page: 2 of 8
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Pag© 2 - ANNOTATIONS - April 1984
Heading home with memories of books, a baby, bygones
by BiU McCoy
As I sit here working on my last
edition of Annotations, trying to
decide what needs to go into the
paper, I had a chance to think
about the last three years — both
the good and the bad that have
happened throughout my law
school career.
My first semester in August,
1981, seems hazy. But the first set
of law school exams — torts,
criminal law and five hours of
property with Dr. Duffy — will
live in infamy. Never have I been
so unnerved by anything, nor had
anything I had ever accomplished
prepared me for the trying ex-
perience of sitting for exams.
During that first exam I had so
much sweat pouring off me I
looked like I had been swimming.
During those three hours I would
have sworn the walls were closing
in on me, and that the world had
come to a standstill. An eternity
passed before the proctor called
time. I was mentally and physi-
cally drained, yet my study part-
ner and I had to get ready for
rounds two and three.
The second exam was as bad as
the first. But the third one was the
kicker. I went in thanking God it
was my last exam of the semester,
and promised to change my ways
if He would please help me get
through it. The test started at 6
p.m., as do most of our exams.
My stamina and strength were low
and by this time, my nerves were
so shot that every breath I took
sent pain through my body. All
the anxiety I was experiencing had
caused my stomach to hurt as it
had never hurt before. I looked at
the ceiling so much that night that
my neck ached. Yet across the
room, my study partner, Kirk,
was singing. He already had the
Christmas spirit. After the exam
Kirk explained that since he
couldn't remember anything, he
decided to sing "Jingle Bells." My
only response was, "I know the
feeling, but you had me beat. I
couldn't even remember that."
I have always believed there is a
purpose to everything, and that
you have to accept what happens
to you, go with the flow, and learn
from it. Despite my philosophy,
when I first arrived here, I con-
stantly asked myself why I was in
Houston. I come from God's
country — the heart of East Texas
— where life is good, clean and
simple. The horror stories of
Houston's crime and violence —
stories I had heard back home —
were always flashing before my
eyes. I was in Houston for my
Editorial
McCoy says thank you!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the present S.B.A.
for having given me the opportunity to serve as Editor of the Annota-
tions for the past year.
I would also like to thank the people who have contributed to the
paper and helped make it a success.
I want to congratulate DEAN WALKER on his tremendous ac-
complishments that have taken place in my three years at S.T.C.L. The
new building with its facilities makes our school and reputation a leader
among law schools.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to BARBARA PUSCH for
helping me on the paper. Her knowledge and experience in journalism
has helped the paper and myself through some rough times.
THANK YOU!
William H. McCoy
Editor
legal education, but I soon found
out I had another purpose, one
which was more rewarding to me
than anything I have ever done.
The date was January 29, 1982;
the time was 10:20 a.m. This is
one of the few dates and times
that will stay with me for the rest
of my life. It was then that I was
grateful to the Good Lord for giv-
ing me steady nerves. And I was
thankful that as an 18-year-old I
absorbed what I heard and later
was able to recall the knowledge
on the spot.
The day of January 29 began no
differently from the rest. Up at 6
a.m., a light workout, then into
the books. A little before 10 a.m. I
made breakfast, then washed the
dishes. The phone rang and while
I was talking, 1 heard a piercing
scream. I ran to my neighbor's
house and found Carrie in labor
with her sister-in-law by her side. I
picked Carrie up, put her in the
car and told her sister-in-law that
if she hit the highway and didn't
think she could make it to the
hospital in time, to turn back. I
would deliver the baby. All that
she asked was, "Do you know
how?" "Sure, no problem," I
said. I went back to the phone,
and not two minutes later I heard
the horn as the car came speeding
up to my house. Once again, I
picked up Carrie, and this time
brought her inside.
Now was the time to put up or
shut up. I was under the wrong
impression that women know
what to do in these situations, and
that men wait outside while the
miracle happens. WRONG! Here
were two women with a total of
five kids and neither knew where
to start. They told war stories —
how difficult their deliveries had
been in the past. They were funny
but I didn't have time to enjoy it
— there was a more pressing situa-
tion at hand.
All I could think of was "Oh
God, help me." I had taken part
in delivering calves before so, I
thought, this can't be too dif-
ferent. Well, there is a little dif-
ference.
I started the job as if I were an
ANNOTATIONS
EDITOR
William McCoy
Associate Editor Warren St. John Assistant Editors Kevin Bell
First Asst. Ed. /Photographer Lynn Cherry Sara Cooper
Copy Editor Barbara Pusch Ed Goldberg
Advocate Editor David Holman Cindi Hooper
Sports Editor Mike Larringa Mike Kelly
BUSINESS MANAGER
Kirk Oncken
SBA President Lynn Cherry Faculty Advisor Susan Crump
Annotations is published the first day of September, October, November, December, February, March,
April by the students at South Texas College of Law. Copy deadline is the 15th of the previous month.
Typed contributions are solicited. Subscriptions $10 postpaid. 1303 San Jacinto, Suite 324, Houston,
Texas 77002. (713) 759-9142.
old hand at delivering babies. Of
course, no one had bothered to
tell me that when a baby is born,
it's very blue. This baby also was
born with the cord wrapped
around its neck, not just once, but
twice. I thought the baby was
dead, and panic struck. But I told
myself to use common sense, and
I slowly unwrapped the cord, and
then unclogged the baby's nose
and throat.
I wish I could describe the feel-
ing I had when that baby took her
first breath. This tiny being in my
big paws was alive. I swatted her
on the bottom and felt life enter
those little lungs. She took her
first breath, and let out her first
scream.
That unique experience gave a
new meaning to life for me. This is
perhaps the best reason I know for
my being in Houston.
The following two years were
less thrilling and exciting but they
had their own special events take
place.
Perhaps the highlight of my
three years in law school has been
my association with the Annota-
tions, which began in the fall of
1982. It was by chance that 1 was
asked to be business manager of
the paper, which in turn led to my
being appointed editor.
It seemed ironic that I would be
editor of a newspaper, for I
always had a low opinion of jour-
nalists. I will be the first to admit
that when I began working with
the Annotations, I had no idea of
what needed to be done or what
the entire process of publishing a
paper entailed. I since have gained
a respect for journalists. My asso-
ciation with the newspaper also
has taught me how to deal with
people in the "real world." My
patience has increased, as has my
understanding. There have been
many times when it would have
been easier to throw in the towel
than to continue, but I am no
quitter. It may sound as if it was a
major ordeal, and it was. But it
was an ordeal I wouldn't trade for
anything, for it has been a major
learning experience for me.
The realization that I'm now
about to graduate hit me when I
was studying for the ethics exam
during the spring break. I was sit-
ting at my desk looking at the
things an attorney could and
could not do. I then wondered if
there was enought malpractice in-
surance to insure me against possi-
ble loss. It was a cold, sinking, but
still exciting feeling that entered
my body as I realized that what I
had been striving for was finally
within my reach.
As I close my last semester of
law school, I can only think of no
more studying, no more finals, or
worrying about whether I have
passed another exam. I feel as if
I've served three years in
purgatory. Just let me out. I'm
counting the days when I can leave
Houston, and go back to East
Texas.
The past three years will be
years I will remember for the rest
of my life. I have made new
friends that I feel will remain
friends throughout life. I've learn-
ed to work with people and to co-
operate with them, and I've learn-
ed that certain things are not to be
done by yourself, but with a part-
ner; that at times, you have to
trust someone else.
Letters to the Editor
Editor:
I assume that you have more in-
fluence around this place than I
do and I therefore request your
immediate assistnce. Would you
find out for me, please, why I am
required to pa/ for a law journal
for three semesters before anyone
will give me one? My queries to
those in the law journal office and
the SBA have thus far gone un-
answered; I am not certain if this
is because they do not care or they
have yet to come up with a viable
answer.
Any assistance you can give me
in this matter will be greatly ap-
preciated.
ANNOTATIONS asked the
Law Journal staff and their only
response was to come by and see
Fred Wahrlick or Neil Hogan,
editor-in-chief, to pick up your
law journals.
Traditional or Classic Design Rings
YOUR OFFICIAL CLASS RING
HERFF JONES
RAY BRANCH
School Services
701 Sharon Lane Office (713) 383-2006
Baytown. Texas 77521 Home (713) 427-1520
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McCoy, William. South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 9, April, 1984, newspaper, April 1984; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth144419/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting South Texas College of Law.