law students’ corner – Washburn University Law School
How to Ensure Your Email Finds Me Well by Emily Brandt
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ince March, how many emails have you received that started with something like: “I hope this email finds you well.” How many times did those emails find you well? What could we all be doing in our lives to ensure that our emails are finding others well in these unprecedented times? I think that the answer is giving each other more grace. Grace is an integral part of my life—the concept of free and (sometimes) unmerited help. To me, grace is more than compassion or empathy. It is an intentional act of giving aid to others, even when they may not be deserving of the help. Grace is unconditional. In these unprecedented times, we could all use a little more grace. We could all stand to give and receive more grace. What does giving more grace in law school look like? I asked a few of my peers for examples of when grace was given to them since we started law school online in March. For one, grace was their boss allowing them to work from home. They are still working from home, and the flexibility to be able to do so has ensured the ability to continue earning an income and gaining experience without the anxiety of being in an enclosed office. For another peer, grace came
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in the form of peers and professors not judging them when they were late for an online class. Even though they felt undeserving of grace, professors made sure the student had the information they needed to succeed rather than punishing them for being unable to make it to a virtual class. When a peer found out their summer position was cancelled due to COVID-19, several professors used their networks to try and find alternative employment. For me, grace has come in the form of patience. I have found myself unable to focus on a singular task or needing more clarification than I typically would. When I ask for more clarification and time on assignments, I have been met with patience and understanding. Though I may feel embarrassed to ask for an extension or a reminder about a deadline, that embarrassment quickly disappears when an extension or clarification is granted without a second thought. I think these examples resonate with a lot of law students right now. We may not always feel deserving of grace, but those around us are feeling the same way, so we should all do more to take care of our communities during these unique times. The following is a non-exhaustive list of acts of grace
