Princeton-bound BGA grad on cerebral palsy: ‘It’s part of me but not all of me’ – The Tennessean

Battle Ground Academy senior Benjamin Ball holds William Faulkners As I Lay Dying and a Bunsen burner lighter. The two items represent Ball's love for literature and math and science.(Photo: Shelley Mays / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

During college application season, Battle Ground Academy senior Benjamin Ball struggled to select a theme for his personal essay.

There was one obvious option he could write about living with cerebral palsy.

But for the self-professed nerd with interests ranging from theater to physics, focusing on the neurological disorderseemed limiting.

Ball did write about his cerebral palsy. But he flipped the script onthe expected adversity angle.

"It's apart of me," Ball said of his cerebral palsy. "But not all of me."

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Ball has never been defined by one thing.

He's gone to national competitions for speech and debate andperformed in plays and musicals. On the academic side, he's excelled in literature, philosophy, science and math.

"He's what I'd call a Renaissance man," said BGA English teacher Leah Handelsman.

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"Whatever he chooses to do with his life, I don't know that will be the only thing in his life," Handelsmansaid. "He's not going to give up his other interests just because he's chosen one field."

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Ball is not sure what future job he wants. But for now, he plans to major in engineering and minor in philosophy at Princeton University.

"I love thinking of what ideas can be used for not a greater good maybe, but a general application," Ball said.

"It's not so much being involved in social work and community service," Ball said. "It's more the idea of looking at the larger-scale problems ofthe world and seeing how you can solve them.

"I'm a nerd," Ball said."But I'm a broad nerd."

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As part of his school's Honor Council, Ball has spokenin school assemblies about the importance of integrity.

"He does better than a lot of adults when given a microphone," Handelsmansaid. "He can convey a serious message and do it with humor."

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Zack Helberg, Ball's friend and classmate, compared his speech delivery to storytellers of early history.

"Benjamin is really good at drawing you in and making you feel like he's speaking right to you," Helberg said.

"It's not like a normal assembly where people are falling asleep," Helbergsaid. "People listen to his jokes and listen to his message as well."

Reach Melanie Balakit at mbalakit@tennessean.com.

About Benjamin Ball

Age: 17

School: Battle Ground Academy

College he'll attend: Princeton University

Major: Major in engineering and minor in philosophy

High school activities:Theater, musicals, quiz bowl, speech and debate, Honor Council

Advice for students: "Be kind and worry less."

About this project

The outstanding graduates are from some of Williamson Countys private schools. The schools nominated students, and winners were chosen by members of the Williamson team.Williamson County Schoolschose not to participate, according to spokespersonCarol Birdsong.

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Princeton-bound BGA grad on cerebral palsy: 'It's part of me but not all of me' - The Tennessean