A piece of my life that I value dearly but often only mention in passing is my hobby of juggling. I bring it up occasionally as a fun fact or party trick, but I don’t usually explain it in greater detail due to its unconventionality. On the surface, juggling is mainly another creative outlet and a common interest I have with close friends; but looking back, it also represents a signficant part of my journey growing up and becoming the adult I am today.
As a third-grader in the fall of 2001, I entered Jugheads Youth Juggling Company, an after-school program based in my hometown of Edina, MN. After seeing me neither excel in nor enjoy more typical sports, my parents pushed me to join Jugheads—and my older brother had enrolled three years prior, as well—but I even struggled there too, taking six months to achieve the basic pattern of three balls. After that period, though, I did begin to thrive as a Jughead, becoming a more advanced juggler in the years to come and qualifying for the group's varsity-level team, the Ultimate Club, by 2007.
Jugheads does not only teach juggling, however; it also instills in its members the values of perseverance, mentorship, and community. The company's motto, "Developing youth through juggling," is truly its driving force, as modeled by the effervescence and compassion of its director and head coach Paul Arneberg. Paul has always put the kids of Jugheads first, through acknowledging every student by their name, taking the time to help each individual with their juggling, and encouraging them to keep practicing and growing on their own. By extension, the kids themselves also assume that mantle of mentorship: the older Jugheads are able to take on the roles of Assistants to the littler members (the official title involves attending one of the daily clubs as a student leader). I became an Assistant in 2008, strongly desiring to help those younger than myself achieve their goals, paying forward the love and support I received as a budding Jughead and positively contributing to a community that I had come to cherish immensely.
I graduated from Jugheads (and high school) in 2011, eternally grateful for what I had learned about hard work and leadership and for the family-like home that Paul, his wife Wendy, and my fellow Jugheads had fostered. This past May, I plus other graduated alumni were invited to participate in the 20th anniversary of the company's annual production, Juggle Jam, which features all 90 current members (down from the record 140 in Juggle Jam 14) in a variety of juggling routines, themed vignettes, and skits. Being in the performance reminded me of everything that makes Jugheads so wonderful and important: friendship, collaboration, unity, and championship. While remembering warm memories of Juggle Jams past, I happily experienced all of the show's honored traditions: the high-energy opening set to The Brian Setzer Orchestra's "Rock This Town;" running around and laughing backstage with friends; the Slide Show honoring every Jughead with a distinct commendation; and the finale set to Gloria Estefan's "Reach" that embodies the joy of cultivating young dreams.
Juggle Jam 20 was the perfect reunion and more: I not only witnessed the enduring strength of the Jugheads community through the bond we alumni share, but I was also inspired seeing the present members maintain the fun, nurturing spirit of the company and embark on their own paths of personal growth. Now, years after my last Juggle Jam, I am more motivated than ever to sustain my unique relationships with the close friends I made while in Jugheads and to continue living by the lessons I learned as a member: to always reach for the sky, and help others do the same.
Every year Paul and Wendy take a picture with all of the graduates and alumni present at Juggle Jam. Obviously, this year’s crowd was the biggest ever!