User:LIL BEN JR

BENJAMIN JR (born July 12, 1998), better known by his stage name LIL BEN but recently changed too LIL BEN JR, is an African American rapper, songwriter, and actor and , Produced / subscriber to my Youtube channel @LILBENJR Lil Ben jr is the founder of DJ ben films with 3 other Member he started dj Ben films in 2015 ?

I started CircEsteem in 2012 after my friends kept telling me about circus. I wanted to check it out because I wanted to see if it was good for me. I was bored at home and looking at the wall, and my friend came to my house to tell me about CircEsteem after school program. I went there and saw what they do. I thought, “Wow, that is so cool. I want to do that.” Now I get paid to perform at parties and parades and I get to teach kids. I teach clowning, juggling, German wheel, plates, Diabolo (Chinese yoyo), and I love teaching. Before I started circus, I couldn’t make friends, I couldn’t have a family (circus family), and I couldn’t spend my time there. I was always at home bored. Circus changed my life, it’s what I Live for and where I go. It is my family and my home. We travel and I see new places like Washington, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York. Next year, we are going to Hawaii. It is the most fun I have ever had. I felt frustrated because I didn’t think I could do it. I cried. I kept trying and my teammates supported me. I couldn’t get it after trying for three months. But when I got the flip, I hugged all my teammates and showed it off at the end of class. I felt so proud, I finally got the flip I always wanted to do. I have changed because of circus. Before it, I was not a good student. But school and circus have changed me. I need to work hard and get good grades. I want to graduate. I told myself, “Benjamin you have to focus.” I had ADHD and couldn’t concentrate. Circus helped me in a lot of things. I can take care of myself and family now. My family are refugees from Tanzania. Coming to the USA was hard, we had to wait four years to get on the plane and traveled a lot in Africa. We were in Tanzania, then went to Kenya for four years before we came to the USA. I did not know English and only knew Kirundi. I went to schools in Africa but they were very different than here. The floors were dirt and you did not get extra help. It was hard in Chicago, because people would speak to me and I could only respond in Kirundi. Finally, I found someone to translate for me, and I could start learning little by little. I learned the bad words first. I would copy what other people say. I began to understand that I was saying bad things and got in trouble but did not know what I did wrong. I learned how to read and speak English with extra support. I still struggle with reading but keep growing. When I joined CircEsteem, I started juggling and I got good. A couple months and years I began juggling clubs. I got good at that and joined TEAM program. TEAM is after school practice for the circus shows with teamwork exercises and conditioning. TEAM changed me because I learned what circus family is and have extra time with them. I learned new performances and though I struggle at times, I keep going. I never give up. No matter what, even if it hurts. I got the flip and now I can twist and double flip.

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