Falling, Failing, and Flying: Lily’s Hootworthy Path in Aerial Arts

Lily didn’t set out to become an aerialist—it just happened. One Christmas, she got a set of silks, thought, Okay, I’ll check this out, and gave it a shot. Her first attempt? A disaster. (She’s not submitting video proof of that one.)

She had seen aerialists make it look effortless, but reality hit fast—sore muscles, fabric burns, bruises. And then there were the small details, like hamburger hands (stiff, awkward fingers instead of graceful movement). She spent hours figuring it all out, watching YouTube tutorials, trying, failing, and trying again. The hardest part? Drops from the top—without formal training, getting the technique right took serious focus.

Eventually, things started to click. She expanded into aerial hoop and trapeze, but silks remained her favorite—the endless combinations, the dramatic drops. And then came the moment everything connected: a performance to a Björk song where she stopped thinking and just moved. It was raw, instinctive, and completely her.

Even with all her progress, self-doubt crept in when she joined an aerial gym. Everyone else had formal training, knew the official terms—she didn’t. She felt like she didn’t belong. But when she got evaluated and placed at level 4-5 (out of 6), she realized she did belong. All those hours of training on her own had paid off.

Now, Lily wants others to take chances on things they don’t think they can do. She knows what it’s like to hold herself back, but she also knows what it feels like to push past that. She doesn’t want fear keeping anyone from trying.

Aerial arts won’t be her career, but the lessons will stick with her. She’s heading to college (the first in her family to go), and while she’s not sure where that road leads, she knows one thing—she’s not letting doubt hold her back.

Oh, and before she goes—a shoutout to AP Human Geography and Mr. West!

Lily’s story proves you don’t have to be fearless to start something new. You just have to start. Stay hootworthy, Lily

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