February 14, 2006
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Entering The Upper Echelon
I was playing Dave in a quick game of Burnout today, and he said something that could vaguely be considered an excuse. I countered with: “Rule #76: No excuses. Play like a champion!“
Oh, how I chortled with glee…
Anyway, I think this is the only movie quote I’ve somewhat-successfuly been able to work into conversation all week. I would have more success if people recognized quotes from The Paper Chase, but “they” seem to think that this is an obscure movie.Speaking of movie quotes, The Paper Chase, and smooth transitions between sentences, I must note for the record that a single quote from that movie changed my entire life. This is what the main character says as he talks to a friend about his struggles to do well in a contract law class at law school:
It is very interesting to me how quickly the class has divided up into three
factions.
One faction being the students who sit in the back of the class, given up
sitting in their assigned seats, preparing the cases.
What is it, only October?
They’ve already given up trying – the cowards.
The second group are the ones who won’t raise their hands or volunteer an
answer, but will try when they’re called upon.
That’s where I am right now, living in a state of constant fear.
And then there’s the third echelon: the upper echelon; the volunteers.
They raise their hands in class.
They thrust themselves into the fray.
I don’t think they’re smarter than anyone else, but they have courage.
And, they’ll achieve the final recognition, that teachers will get to
know their names, and they’ll get better grades.
The past couple weeks I’ve been preparing to enter the upper echelon,
and this weekend – if I can get all my work done -
I’m going to enter it Monday morning, in Kingsfield’s contract law class.I saw this movie in 1993 or 1994, and I’ve been trying to enter the Upper Echelon every since. Not by chasing empty sheets of papers like diplomas (get it? paper chase?), but by thrusting myself into the fray. Also, by not living in a state of constant fear.
Why am I blogging about personal stuff like this? I suppose I now know why people blog about personal stuff. It’s because you run out of other things to blog about! Anyway, watch the movie. If anybody still has a VCR, I’ll lend you my videocassette.
Comments (8)
I always hated the people in the upper-echelon. Why couldn’t they skip class and sit in the back like me, occasionally dosing off? Did they derive some perverse joy from answering questions and sitting up front? And the thing is, I think I can safely say that my job is way cooler than theirs.
The Upper Echelon?
HE!
Hmmm….I think the Upper Echelon also requires strict adherence to current movie format standards. Videocassette!?!? You’re kidding me, right?
for the record, the DVD was only released in 2003. i bought the DVD after i wrote this post last night…
dude your cool your my new bestest friend
Greetings to all:
I too changed my viewpoints about class participation. I am not the type to keep my hands up constantly but even since I watched the movie Paper Chase, I made a decision to sit upfront – right smack in the middle of the zone and am not a bit afraid to “swim with the sharks’
By the way, my seat is literally in front of the professor [but he can't see me]
Do you know why? Because I am a student at Concord School of Law and we have the right to be invisible. Check their website to find out!
Cas
@JD2012 - congrats! It sounds like you will achieve the final recognition, that teachers will get to
know your name, and you’ll get better grades!