Growing My Bar Beard

The bar exam is generally looked at as one of the more grueling testing processes anywhere. Twice every year people all over the country gather in their respective states and take this three day exam. This year, I will join them as I sit to take the February 2009 exam in Columbus, Ohio.

My name is Mike Rodgers and I am a recent graduate of Capital University Law School in Columbus. I went to school as a part-time student in the evenings, while working a full-time job in state government. Law school for me was extremely challenging, and I often resented it because of the tremendous strain it put on my personal relationships. With the light rapidly nearing at tunnel’s end, I wanted to do something to help prepare me for the bar, and also to help me remember the end of this bitter struggle. Thus, the idea of the bar beard was born.

In order to best prepare myself for the exam, I have taken a leave of absence from my job from February 2nd to March 2nd. My job requires a suit and a clean and polished look, so I have basically been shaving on a daily basis for well over five years. As such, I have never tried nor allowed any facial hair of significance to accumulate on my chin or upper lip. With almost a month off of work, when will there be a better time to let nature takes its course and try to grow a really ragged beard?

Here are the rules:

I will not shave at all starting on January 28th and lasting until the end of the exam February 26th. On the night of January 27th, exactly four weeks before the start of the exam, I will shave one last time to make sure I am completely starting from smooth.

I will not be allowed to shave, trim or otherwise cut any of my facial hair until the end of the third day of the exam on Thursday, February 26th.

I will capture a headshot daily and post it here to show the progress of my beard.

That’s the first part of the challenge, check back soon for the second.