I was 16 when I first learned to juggle. It was a life lesson in balance, perseverance, and community. A lesson that has helped me chart a path through higher education and into life. As a younger child I remember reading a book called Inkheart in it one of the main characters was a storyteller who used fire to tell show tales of daring escapades and heroic journeys. As he told stories he juggled fire mesmerizing the audience with its alluring flames. I remember that feeling of awe that comes from another’s talent, a harmony of body and mind, a melding of man and his action. This was probably where the idea of juggling first came to my experience.
It wasn’t until years later that I tried the craft for myself. I was 16 and I remember wanting to stand out from the crowd. Like most teenagers I wanted to feel like others could see me and that I mattered, I’m not exactly sure why, but juggling seemed like it might be the way to achieve this. When I was at home, three tennis balls became the center of my attention for a couple of hours each day. I would go outside and toss each ball as high as I could hoping that gravity would wait long enough for me to catch them on the way down.
For the first few days it was a struggle just to get a ball out my hands before the next came back down. This went on for about a week, but soon I began to get each ball out in time. The next step was a little more complicated, catching on reentry. It wasn’t until a month or so after I began to see success in this trial. I would throw up each ball and count how many times in a row I could catch, what started with a single catch soon became two, then four then seven, soon counting didn’t make sense anymore. This was when the fun began.
I remember those three tennis balls stopped living at home and became a staple companion for me. I would walk to class juggling, I would try new juggling patterns, and I began to try to experiment with more tennis balls when I was at home! I would get into a state of flow, juggling wasn’t just catching and throwing, but a rhythm I walked to, a rhythm that was part of me.
This sense of rhythm has taught me the importance of balance in life. When I was to focus on my next catch, I could not be ready to throw, but if I wasn’t prepared to catch, I would drop everything. In life I have had to balance work and school assignments. Being prepared for each class has helped me to achieve academic success, while not focusing too much on one class has helped me to stay away from stress and feel able to catch to prepare for what’s coming next!
This goal has also shown me what true perseverance in education looks like, the fundamentals are important, but once you understand them you need to apply them outside of the classroom. Like walking down the hallways juggling, I try to take core concepts from classes and apply them to where I am at! The classroom is your home where the fundamentals a first learned, but outside is where exploration and new patterns arise. Where the concepts build a rhythm for you to work in.
Last, I would like to talk about community. The year I learned to juggle my dad bought got me juggling pins for Christmas. He had watched me learn and struggle, and without being prompted he knew what I would most enjoy that Christmas. I probably never would have got pins, but it was the best gift I have ever received, because it showed I was known, and I was supported.
The community we are in shapes are learning. They can encourage us to take on new challenges and help to show us a new light. This is why I want to go to grad school and study to become a professor. I want to help students grow and learn their potential. I want to put the tools in their hands necessary for them to grow further than they thought. I also want them to feel known and supported. This is why I want to go into higher education.