Final Project: The Highest Peak

Goal: Create a symbolic whirligig that relates to me and connect all three of my papers this semester.

Learn: To experience the creation of making a whirligig. To gain self-belief and that anything is possible.


Overview of the Symbolism Represented in My Whirligig:
To go into deeper thought than what is shown, there are particular items that make up this whirligig with great significance: Our Deepest Fear, Powerful Beyond Measure, Adjustable Pole Vault Bar, High Bar, Doors, Inspirational Quotes, and Pyramid.

1. Our Deepest Fear
Our Deepest Fear is an inspiration poem written by Marianne Williamson. My paper number one was written on the first time I ever heard this poem and how my friends and I made pact that day. Our Deepest Fear is the base for everything because I believe every single word that complete this poem, I don’t think any other poem can match the motivation that this one has given me.

2. Powerful Beyond Measure
In the Our Deepest Fear poem, there is this line: “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Unfortunately, I could not fit the entire line, so I took out the part where it is meaningful than the other words, which are “Powerful Beyond Measure.” These three words create a bold statement that I personally think will inspire anyone.

3. Adjustable Pole Vault Bar
The adjustable pole vault bar is symbolic by all means. But in this case the Pole Vault Bar go hand-in-hand with the High Bar. My paper number two is represented in this bar as well as the High Bar.

4. High Bar
Take note on how high this bar is. Unlike the adjustable one, this one is stationary. The symbolism between these two bars is that the High Bar is already set… like an expectation. And the Pole Vault one can adjust, but it may not reach the same level as the High Bar… meaning sometimes we cannot live up to expectations.

5. The Doors
A doorframe, hinges, wood, and knobs create not only just a door, but also a doorway. Walking in and out of a room can only happen because of doors. To me symbolically, doors are like opportunities waiting to be open. And opportunities can change your life, as long as you take them.

6. Inspirational Quotes
Sometimes challenges may come your way and pose as barriers. But any barrier can be knocked down with a determined will. These quotes are chosen because they inspire me ant make me think. I hope some of these quotes help inspire others to keep on going.

7. Pyramid
My pyramid shape is symbolic because it represents one peak and how everything leads to one specific thing. To me, this pyramid represents the build up of the highest peak of happiness. It doesn’t matter if you’re going through what it seems like hell because… “If you are going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill

Our Deepest Fear

Our Deepest Fear
(from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles)

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson

I Believe That Anything Can Become Into Reality

I Believe

I believe that anything can become into reality. The dreams, the visions, the wishes… all of those types of things can come true. I personally have told myself over and over “If you truly want something, you will get it.” I forgot to tell myself about the challenges that may bring you down. Those kinds of challenges that come along the way which make the dreams, the visions, and the wishes you genuinely desire seem impossible to achieve. Prove to others and more importantly, yourself that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
The reason that I believe anything can be realistic is because my project helped me see and understand this well. My goal was to create a symbolic whirligig that can relate to others around me and myself. The experience that I will gain from this is to feel somewhat relevantly close to what Brent felt while making his first whirligig. I remember the first day when I started working on my project. I had it all planned out and was ready to get started. Originally, my dad questioned why it was shaped in just some rectangular platform. I told him that I don’t know and that it will be easier to make it in its rectangular glory. Then he brought up ideas for other shapes like circles, triangles, and hexagons. I immediately began to change the entire drawing by taking out its contents and transferring it into a pyramid. I told him my perception of everything leading to the highest peak of happiness and that is the reason why a pyramid is so symbolic. So we went through with the new blue print and started to cut the wood the very next day. After that, I stained it with Sedona Red. This is the point where I began to realize that the multiple lines on a piece of paper can really come to life. My vision of a personal whirligig has just came true.
I truly do believe that anything can become true or real. Just like any other child, I’ve always wanted to meet my favorite Disney character. I’ve always loved Goofy with his humorous clumsiness and interaction with Donald. The first time I ever met Goofy was when I was about three and it was pretty interesting. Goofy accidentally bumped into me and knocked me down to the floor, though it wasn’t entirely his fault since I was behind him trying to cut in front of people. Despite of this accident, I still met my favorite Disney character with his personal clumsiness. The first time I ever went to Lake Tahoe was also significant to me personally. Little did I know at this point in time I was about to accomplish a childhood dream. There was a scene that was will always be remembered in the movie A Walk to Remember, and how the main characters are at two places at once. It was a brilliant concept of achieving this seemingly impossible power. But in the movie, Landon takes Jamie to the state border between North Carolina and Virginia. I told myself I want to do that, but it’s hard to accomplish it when you’re in Hawaii and there is only technically water between the mainland and not an actual border. In 2007, my family and I decided to go to Lake Tahoe for an overnight visit with my Papa Hiro and Mama Mary. They were my mom’s best friends parents, though my Aunty Donna, who was their daughter, loss to a battle with breast cancer a few years earlier. The old couple is so humble and heart-warming that it made me feel that this unfamiliar territory is home. Once we were settled in, we all agreed to eat dinner at this restaurant up the road. It was weird because right across from it was a casino and I never seen a casino in California before. I didn’t think that Lake Tahoe was that in-land, but I was amazed that we are now in Nevada. Afterwards, when we got back into the car I saw the welcome to California sign. There was no line to dictate where each state is. But I can truly say to others that I was in two places at once, even though it was just for a split second.
In this world, anything is possible. There are so many opportunities, gifts, and capabilities that anyone can achieve. Just believe in yourself and then you’re half way there. Ignore those who stand in your way or who pose as a “brick wall”. And now that I think about it, I did not know how to make a whirligig, but yet there it is standing tall in the wind. All it takes is just a little pixie dust and you can fly… the possibilities are endless, so take advantage of them.