Jason's Story
From trainee to trainer.
Jason first walked into KELY's juggling programme as a teenager, seeking connection and companions who can help refine his skills. What began as a simple workshop became a transformative journey of growth and discovery. As he learned to balance multiple balls, he also learned to balance his emotions, build confidence, and connect with peers facing similar challenges.
"Young people nowadays have different sources of pressure."
"This is a different era. Their world is more complicated than ever,
so they are affected easily by many things.
Their need for companionship is higher than ever.
This programme grows with them, and this is why we need all the support that we can get."
Jason, KELY Juggling Trainer & Alumnus
I started juggling when I was in secondary school. I was learning from a trainer. Then I started learning more on my own. One of my friends introduced me to KELY. I started attending the KELY Social Circus programme (KELY Social Circus later became the Get Positive! programme). This is how I first got in touch with KELY.
As far as I know, the programme has been running for 13 years. When I first started it was its 7th year. A bunch of schools and students will get together and learn how to juggle in this programme. It gathered students who are interested in juggling so they can exchange experiences. I was one of the students that just showed up. My school was not one of the participating schools in the programme,but they welcomed us anyway. I met a lot of people through the programme. I also learned a lot. It also inspired me to purchase a career in juggling after graduating from secondary school. The programme has also given me an opportunity to become one of the trainers to share my skills and the programme with students. |
My teaching methods have been changing over the years. One of the core values of the Get Positive! programme is “growing up together with young people”, including how to deal with our emotions and stress. When I first started, I was still quite young. There was not much generation gap, so I was their friend to go through this experience with them.
At first, I just focused on teaching juggling skills and tricks, but recently I find myself wanting to teach them more.
The tricks are only the beginning. I started encouraging them more, asking them to use the skills that they have to communicate with other students and create their own show and performance, instead of just giving them a fixed set of tricks.
Obviously, having to perform on stage gives them a lot of pressure, but I can tell them that I understand what they are going through, because I do performances as well. I think what they need is a companion, someone to share. They always feel better after sharing their anxiety.
During COVID-19, all the classes were conducted online. I questioned the effectiveness of having classes this way, until two students came along, who said to me, during their first class, “Sir, I can already do this and this and this…”
It was their first class! I have not taught them anything, but they were already trying out the tricks on their own. They did this voluntarily. I did not have ask or push them to do anything. They actively chased me down to ask what they are learning or practicing today. It is quite rare to see students like them.
I decided to pursue this line of career because I met Chit Sir, who is my senior. He is also a trainer of the Get Positive! programme. I learned a lot of teaching skills from him. The things that he taught me and the values and objectives imbued in the programme still resonates with me today. To a certain extent, they helped me build my own values.
If we have more resources, the first thing that I would do is to reserve more time for our classes. The programme includes 20 hours of training now. It may sound like a lot but in fact, ] we need to build their team spirit, build a relationship, teach them tricks, and on top of that we also want to guide them to think. You could see how 20 hours is actually not enough.
Years of dedicated practice helped Jason develop not just juggling skills, but also other life skills. The programme taught him resilience, communication, and the power of peer support. Where he once struggled to maintain focus, he now expertly guides young participants, showing them that every dropped ball is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Today, Jason is more than a trainer; he's a living testament to KELY's mission. From an uncertain youth to a confident mentor, he now stands at the front of the programme, inspiring a new generation of young people. His journey reflects KELY's belief: with the right skills, knowledge, and opportunities, every youth can live to their full potential.
Join us in making a lasting impact! Let's give back to the community and help shape a brighter future for the next generation. Your generosity can make a world of difference.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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