Day 19: Neurolaw is fascinating but singing is better

What went well? 

1. Found out that I can take singing lessons for credit after all. Melbourne uni has approved it as a breadth subject, as well as my Ancient Voices ensemble performance subject, so together they'll count for 1 credit unit. Looking forward to having the opportunity to continue developing my voice, especially since I'm singing in an early music choir this semester. Not that choral singing is bad per se, but when it's not balanced out with lessons at the same time, the voice does find it difficult to switch back to solo mode. So, I'll be dropping Neurolaw (but continuing to audit it because it's actually really interesting, but I'd rather not have to actually do the work with all the other classes & research I'm doing :P).
2. Finally went to my first Neurolaw seminar (it was cancelled last week due to snow day). Was amused when the professor told us that this was meant to be our "fun elective" by design, and basically that we don't have to do the readings. So tbh, the workload wouldn't have been that onerous - just a 30 minute presentation and a 10-page paper.
3. My new singing teacher was able to fit me into her schedule (and even shifted around another student to do so).
4. Went to a Speak-EZ meeting. We practiced impromptu 1-minute "toasts" or "roasts" on a random topic we drew from a box. I think it's going to be a great forum for developing my public speaking/thinking on the spot skills.

What did I learn? 

• Melbourne Uni will approve practically anything as a breadth subject on exchange, and it's AWESOME!!! So much freedom to choose. Thanks, UniMelb!
• The embedded lesson is: JUST ASK. It never hurts to ask. The reason why I took so long to act upon this whole music lessons for credit thing (and the deadline was the next day) was because I was sure they wouldn't approve it so I didn't ask. But then I did, and they approved it. Anyway, the worst they can do is say no! So when in doubt, ask.
• The Neurolaw professor is amazingly accomplished, she has both an MD and JD because she couldn't decide what she wanted to be! (and now she's working at the intersection anyway, as a psychiatrist, as well as lecturing in criminology and doing stuff in neurolaw) Super impressive/scary.
• There's a reason the acronym for high intensity interval training is HIIT. It hits you!! Did my first class today at the gym and boy was it painful. I was dying of tiredness before (after a 3-hour long seminar) and dying even more of tiredness after but am now cheerful :) Well, no pain, no gain, and at least it was short and sweet (30 mins)!
• The people at Speak-EZ are really friendly, and it's a really welcoming environment.
• Apparently, I used really effective gestures during my 45 second vendetta against cornflakes (& corn in general). Here's the thing: I had no idea I was even gesturing!! Lesson: Sometimes you really have no idea what you're doing when you're doing public speaking. More mindfulness :)
• As David Cain suggests, I've never regretted a workout. So I should stop arguing with myself "I'm tired, I could go tomorrow..." and just GO. No negotiation. Period.

Here's a random photo inside the Fisher Fine Arts library from a couple of weeks ago. I don't think I shared it, so here it is!