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Summative Statement

Across the past three months I have participated in a series of events that have tapped into my thought process. By documenting these such events, several ideas have revealed themselves to me. Instinct, Risk Taking, Generations, Memories, Perception, Motivation, Fame and the Senses.Through our eyes we are blinded by the true face of life, however, if we look through our minds this face becomes visible. By applying a creative outlook into the life we live, we can change the way we live. And to first do that we have to form opinions about why something is. And, even before then we first have to question life. Not by just accepting that we live and breathe but, by asking "why?"
Through a thorough reflection of these eight events I have managed to find link that chains these ideas together. When we live life, we utilize the senses we are born with to create a perception of what we recognize. However, should what we recognize be deemed worthy we seek motivation to take a risk on the decision. Through this, we find that instinct is born as everything we do is implanted in our memories. And through these memories, we pass down our experiences to the following generations in order to further evolve them through the technology we make and the tasks we set for the next generation. And it is these decisions we make that determine whether or not we are worthy of fame in the end, whether it be to the world or just to those around you. Through these events I have managed to connect all these ideas together in my mind by forming opinions through critical and creative reflection.

Event #8 - Ultimate Frisbee ASB Tournament (June 2nd)

On June 2nd, I carried forth my tradition of playing Ultimate Frisbee at the ASB stadium in the Social Grade along with my friends and trusted team members. Upon stepping through the doors of the ASB stadium the feeling of nostalgia seemed to fill the atmosphere as I thought back to why I first decided to join. Ultimate Frisbee has maintained a nature unique to the rest despite the fact that it holds factors of netball and rugby it has it's own standings, whether it be it's difference in physical shape or crowd of people.As I played with my team members, we maintained a winning streak and won the game with a score of 18 - 4. But it got me thinking about how I was able to throw a disc without a moment's hesitation despite the fact that the slightest breeze, angle change and position change would affect the discs path of motion. This forced me to question instinct, how is it that we can move without a thought, but other times we take days to make a single decision? Decisions are best made in seven breaths but on the court you only get seven seconds to let the disc go. Humans by nature are born with fear, that single moment where the heart beats faster and the world around deafens. That's the moment where we're frozen, incapable of making any decision. But how is it that we overcome fear? The questions of life has even managed to find itself on the Court but it leaves the question without an answer.

Event #7 - Conjoint Birthday Party, Hansan Vietnamese Restaurant (may 29th)

another year has been and another birthday has come and this time around it was a conjoint birthday party. On a decision from the birthday boy and girl, the party began at Hansan Vietnamese Restaurant on 525 Panmure Ellerslie Highway. Upon arrival to my surprise I find that the restaurant was dominated on one side by our group grabbing a total of 43 seats.
Occupying the largest amount of space, we in turn required the greatest amount of resources and attention. A decision and risk that had to be taken by the owners for a day's personal boost in profit. Seeing how were served quickly, and given the freedom of a great amount of noise, this would possibly of affected the enjoyment levels of other customers. If they had taken the risk and we were too rowdy a group, many customers would be instantly turned off by the idea of eating at the restaurant.
I couldn't help but think that risks are not only necessary in businesses but in life itself. Risks are taken for a single purpose. To get somewhere better, faster. By taking a risk we immediately ignore the main question, "What if the risk doesn't work out?" But to take a risk one must ignore the possibility of the question becoming valid. However, if you consider the fact that every decision in life has a right and wrong, then being wrong is the risk in life. Therefore in turn, is there ever a moment in life where a decision made isn't a risk? And if there isn't, then that would give way to the idea that life is in fact all about risks with every decision, small and big. So then the final question we could ask is, "What if the owner had decided not to take the risk, or rather what if the owner was wrong for taking the risk?"

Event #6 - Ultimate Frisbee Coaching (May 25th)

Frisbee, the first thing that comes to mind is dog toy. But, what happens when it's put on a sports court or field? It becomes a sport that I've donated five years of my life to. I started as a little boy curious to how throwing a disc could prove difficult or enjoyable only to have it exceed my expectations.
Frisbee, or better known as Ultimate Frisbee is a team sport where two teams of commonly four for indoors and five for outdoors compete. Like netball, the disc holder is prohibited from moving, and like rugby the aim is to pass the disc down the field through team members to catch the disc in a specified 'zone' to score a point, except without the touchdown factor.
The other team may defend by smacking the disc away or catching it in mid flight to turnover the disc. But due to the design and weight of a disc, the slightest angle tilt and held position can alter the motion of flight. From curves around players to discs in upside down flight or even discs thrown low that rise up higher in mid flight.

Having dedicated five years of my life as a student I returned as a coach to teach a new generation of players. Eager to seek out talent I trialed and selected a team. The team not only held great potential but held potential that surpassed mine when I began. It's been proven that every generation is born to be greater than the last but what is the factor that makes it so? In sporting, in academics and in life, the younger generation will always surpass the older. This becomes a direct question to evolution itself. How is it that humans are capable of evolving into the world presented to them without any difficulty. But when you find the older generation, you find them incapable of understanding technology despite them having been here the longest. So having to watch from third person instead of first person from here on, should I expect them to surpass me entirely in the near future?

Event #5 - Pakuranga College School Ball (May 15th)

An event designed for the purpose of creating an unforgettable night for teenagers during their college years. This became an experience that I managed to enjoy for three years in a row. Although the location was the same every single time at Ellerslie Convention Center the experience was always different each time with different people and different themes. However, this time I was the outside partner to the event. The style of entrance was the same as the years before where everyone descended down an escalator that gradually revealed the room underneath in all it's glory with the magnificent colors and lighting.
I've seen three different sets of people attend the same event, but for reasons I know I remember each one like it was yesterday certain I will never forget. So, what in our brain dictates whether something is memorable to us or not? Every year, the same speech is given by the same teacher where he ends by saying "This is a night you'll never forget no matter how old you get."
And as I descended those same escalators I couldn't help but think that he would be giving the same speech again but the truth of it never changed. In life every human accomplishes many feats but the most memorable of them are done socially. Academic successes may bring distance in life, but the successes made through friendships maintain the lasting image. The event itself is a representation of just that. Despite the claim to difference of theme, it doesn't seem to change all that much when it comes down to it, it's the same tables, same dance floor, same place. But, the main attraction of the event itself isn't the decorations or the food, but rather the people. It's a chance to see the same people you know in a different environment. The ball is something people go to for just that, the people. And despite, how the place may look, smiles and laughter fill the venue everywhere in groups of people dancing and talking. The chance to see friends you haven't talked to in forever and talk like you've been talking everyday since day one, unforgettable.

Event #4 - Hair cut (May 10th)

For the upcoming Pakuranga College School ball I decided to try something new and get a haircut at a new place for the occasion itself. Like the typical Asian boy I go to the same person every single time for the exact same hair cut with the same interval of length in between. But this time I had a different approach. Upon my brother's recommendation I went to a Korean hairstylist in the hopes I'd come out with something noticeably new. The hairstylist then recommended that I layer my hair and so under her recommendation I let her do just that. My usual hairstylist didn't take long at all to cut but this time, with this new hairstylist I sat there for a good forty minutes not knowing what to expect except for what I could see in the mirror already. Naturally during the forty minute long silence my mind couldn't help but wander. Time, we're all given it but never take much note of it. Time is really a degrading of atoms and particles when it comes down to it where through time we grow older and eventually weaker. However, despite the fact that time is independent of our minds, our minds seem to truly control the boundaries of time. In enjoyment time increases, in boredom time decreases. Our mind becomes the greatest factor because our mind controls how we perceive the world and time is no special case. Given the forty minute silence time seemed to crawl by, however truthfully, the time wasn't any faster or any slower than it should of been. But the only thing that truly changed was my minds participation in the time duration in which it underwent a different perception of the world for that moment. This only makes me question, how strong is the mind really when it has enough power to change something that we don't even have control of like time and make us believe it?

Event #3 - Nam Pai Chuan Shaolin Grading (May 1st)

Event #3 - Nam Pai Chuan Shaolin Grading (May 1st)
Nam Pai Chuan Shaolin, a form of martial arts that I have been participating in. Nam Pai Chuan Shaolin teaches forms, a better understanding of life and self strengthening. And once the stage has been reached forms of tiger, leopard. dragon, crane and snake can be learned.
This was my first grading despite having learned martial arts for two years already in separate martial arts. If I succeeded in performing my form perfectly I would be granted the opportunity of advancing up from white belt to yellow belt. However, I was unfortunate enough to turn up to the event sick. But this didn't hinder my determination to participate and succeed. After I finished with my turn I sat down respectfully and quietly watched the remaining belts perform. I was given the opportunity of witnessing first hand what I would have to compete with and do should I carry on down this path.
But what I wanted to know was how I could expect myself to even close that gap. And the answer was determination born from self motivation. Motivation is a tool we use to get us further in life and in the things that we do, but how is it that we summon this thing that we call motivation? If one person can summon it, doesn't it entitle every human to the capability of summoning that same quality? However, it has been seen that motivation varies from person to person while some people have no motivation at all. But before utilize motivation we first have to determine whether something is worth the effort or not, so it is in moment where we control motivation. But where is the home of motivation in humans? Is it in the brain, or is it actually in the heart itself? Whether it's at the end of a blade or looking down your arm, the destination of life is done through the effort and determination to reach the desired location.

Event #2 - IP Man 2 Movie (April 29th)

For the first time in a long while, I went to watch a movie with my family, and our movie of choice was IP Man 2. We all enjoyed watching the first one so we decided why not the second? This is a Kung Fu movie about the mentor of Bruce Lee himself and the story of his life. A touching and epic tale about his hardships in life from his battles to his losses. Where he won the hearts and acknowledgment of all those that witnessed his fights and his triumphs in and out of battles. This was a movie done in Cantonese, with English subtitles. Upon walking into the theater I find it completely packed leaving us literally only with the seats we booked out having arrive in late. But in that instant I couldn't help but think to myself, how is it that a movie filmed completely in Cantonese could command a crowd of such diversity. The only answer I had in my mind, was fame. The world itself, is filled with people of high status and fame. But, what dictates whether someone is deserving of becoming famous and what are the limitations and requirements to maintain the title of 'celebrity' or 'famous'. Looking around you can find a variety of people famous for a different set of talents. Ranging from music, acting, dancing, drawing to sporting talents. But if we take a deeper look at not the entire world but our individual world isn't it possible to find a multitude of people with the same talents but lacking the fame? So how is it that two people can lead different lives when they have the same capabilities? So then it makes me wonder if it's valid or not to say that fame is also based on the luck of being at the right place at the right time even if there is someone better suited for the job. But leading back to the movie, it's obvious that the fame was what drew the crowd in but what brought out it's fame is the question. Because, growing up I've heard of Bruce Lee, but I never once heard of his tutor, IP Man.

Event #1 - Foam Party (April 8th)

This was my first foam party, and after hearing about it from my brother and his friends, I knew that I had to experience this first hand myself to see what it was about it. Excited I got a ticket and went together with my friends to make the experience more enjoyable. Upon arriving the crowd wasn't as large due to our early arrival time so all I could do is wait. But as midnight drew closer the crowd grew bigger and the foam began spitting from the machines to drift down from above falling down on everyone. The machine began exerting more foam at a gradual rate but it didn't soak much, although, it did make it hard to breathe.

And I finally realized that being at the foam party crowded and squeezed in as I was that I was getting the full effect of all my senses. I could see the foam, smell the foam, hear the music, taste the foam unfortunately and touch the foam. That's when my mind began to work during the fun. What makes humans think and work is their senses. When we use our senses to recognize anything before us via our senses our mind begins to work and decode what we recognize. This only brings about the question what makes everything so. When one sees, smells or taste food, what in their brain tells them it is chicken, beef, or lettuce. What in our mind recognizes it and how does the mind work with our senses to tell us just that?
By fulfilling all the functions of our senses just like at the foam party would that imply that we are at that moment functioning at our best because we're using all the senses or does this mean that it leaves us more off-guard? Which is similar to the case where if one were to go blind, their hearing would increase. Which would suggest that humans will always have the capability to replace loses in the body under limitations.