Why I Joined the Circus After Finishing my PhD | Chris Gatti | TEDxUofM

Chris Gatti modeled the balancing of two worlds in his talk. He is an academic by training and an acrobat at heart. In his talk, Gatti talks about how he found harmony between the two interconnected parts of his life. Chris Gatti is a man of two worlds. Michigan alum and an extraordinaire in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chris was also a performer in the famous Cirque du Soleil! Chris was always fascinated with gymnastics, being a gymnast from age five and serving as the captain for the men’s gymnastics team at the University of Michigan during his junior and senior undergraduate years. Through his dual roles as an academic and performer in life, Chris has experienced a myriad of self realizations and life lessons on who he is, the world around him, and his role in it. Now, he is pursuing his passion for gymnastics by hosting gymnast workshops across the country, with his specialty being the perfect handstand. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 34

  • @TheSusansweeney
    @TheSusansweeney6 жыл бұрын

    I have known the highly intelligent, highly talented Chris since he was 4 years of age. He went to school with my now deceased daughter as well as did gymnastics with her. I have never had more respect as well as admiration for him than right this very second after watching this. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being YOU

  • @cjgatti

    @cjgatti

    6 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for checking out my talk Susan! And thank you so much for the kind words. I hope you're well.

  • @landynmauricio422

    @landynmauricio422

    2 жыл бұрын

    i guess im asking randomly but does someone know a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot my password. I love any help you can offer me.

  • @arend9358
    @arend93585 жыл бұрын

    I recently graduated maths and am now finally following my circus dream. Your words and achievements are truly inspiring, thank you for sharing your story -- all the best

  • @jacobhofer9502

    @jacobhofer9502

    7 ай бұрын

    I'm in a similar boat! Studying math but dreaming of the circus. How'd you make it happen?

  • @mamalovesthebeach437
    @mamalovesthebeach4375 жыл бұрын

    Courageous ... I'm an extrovert who has no issues with speaking but even thinking about doing a TED talk makes me so anxious I feel light-headed. Great story of a brave man. I used to do handstands, cartwheels and move constantly. Just before my 19th birthday, I was a passenger on a motorcycle that was hit by a car-the impact site was my left ankle. I struggled to walk after surgeries to re-attached my left foot but at 63 I'm an avid hiker. I've practiced yoga and have done inversions on occasion. I used to spend a fair amount of time upside down and it did make me happy. I'll work again on my handstands and who knows, maybe even walk on my hands again : ) Thanks for inspiring me and for telling us your story Chris-you're amazing!

  • @Baggiolyful
    @Baggiolyful5 жыл бұрын

    I can relate to this. I have a stutter and believe it’s the one obstacle in my life I must overcome to achieve my potential and learn something from. A lot of great intellects have stutters btw. It’s a long road and i have fell off my bike many times but you just get up and keep moving. Maybe there is no reward at the end but I will embrace the journey and see what’s to come. All you can do is your best and follow your intuition. Great talk

  • @joeculpepper4174
    @joeculpepper41745 жыл бұрын

    An inspired talk! Bravo, Dr. Gatti. I care about your intellectual work and your handstands equally. Thanks for sharing some of the lessons you've learned from both of those endeavors here.

  • @tuljagobburu9117
    @tuljagobburu91173 жыл бұрын

    This is amazing and highly inspiring. Thank you for attesting that life is all about balancing what your heart desires and what you have to do.

  • @Izekat
    @Izekat5 жыл бұрын

    Very inspiring!

  • @kahnjugaming
    @kahnjugaming5 жыл бұрын

    Incredibly inspiring 😁❤️

  • @lisymerci8482
    @lisymerci84823 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your story, it is very inspirarional.

  • @truthspeaksgroup1569
    @truthspeaksgroup15695 жыл бұрын

    This was excellent!

  • @nosiphomubaiwa7645
    @nosiphomubaiwa76452 жыл бұрын

    Wow so refreshing

  • @flaguser4196
    @flaguser41962 жыл бұрын

    if he stayed he would have realized that academe is also a circus with all sorts of tricks, stunts, animals and clowns

  • @akshatrastogi9063

    @akshatrastogi9063

    Жыл бұрын

    😅😅

  • @teresawanjirumbatia9235

    @teresawanjirumbatia9235

    Жыл бұрын

    Lol

  • @lockheart619
    @lockheart6195 жыл бұрын

    "handstands make me happy"

  • @fabregasst7362
    @fabregasst73626 жыл бұрын

    This relates to me... Wow

  • @AlysaBrown
    @AlysaBrown6 жыл бұрын

    Interesting story!

  • @grayghost8609
    @grayghost86094 жыл бұрын

    Oh hey this guy did a handstand workshop for my aerial class :0

  • @donarnold8268
    @donarnold82685 жыл бұрын

    Thank You Sir!

  • @amberurban3501
    @amberurban35014 жыл бұрын

    I'm currently in a Master's program, about to graduate, and will continue on to a PhD. I tell everyone in my cohort, every single day, that I'm going to drop out and join the circus. I plan on graduating first, but one day, hopefully, I'll make it to the circus.

  • @jacobhofer9502

    @jacobhofer9502

    7 ай бұрын

    How's that going? Did you join the circus?

  • @otter662
    @otter6622 ай бұрын

    I always wonder about these extreme athletes whether they have awareness of the degenerative effects of constant extreme repeated back flexion (affecting back disks particularly lumbar) and extensions (affecting the facet joints). For example, like any material the outer shell of a lumbar disc (annulus fibrosus) may wear out (like a tempered piece of plastic) then rupture at some future point causing herniation and all the neurogenic issues that then come with that. No matter how strong you are, fit you are, biomaterial failure probably can be an issue for these athletes, though not an issue in short-term , could be and issue requiring injury management later in life. Of course, there is always a sample pool of athletes to pull from should a performer be side-lined so for the company like Cirque du Soleil it isn't an issue,, but for individual athletes it is. Given Cirque du Soleil has a presence , a base in Canada do the director, therapists of this company ever consult say Dr Stuart McGill from University of Waterloo who specializes in understanding the back injuries of high performance athletes? How common are these injuries with circus performers? Of course to get a full picture one would have to have information on the athletes that had to leave circus because of injuries sustained, ie, not just talk to the athletes left standing, the ones with 'surviver' bias.

  • @drewmichaeldonnell2696
    @drewmichaeldonnell26965 жыл бұрын

    100% stand-up guy

  • @chemistryphysics716
    @chemistryphysics716 Жыл бұрын

    This is odd. I joined the circus and after 4.5 years got a PhD.

  • @elenakusevska6266
    @elenakusevska62662 жыл бұрын

    Because Academia is one big circus, so you already had strong credentials :) I'm kidding, I couldn't resist. Watching the video now.

  • @kasnarfburns210
    @kasnarfburns2102 жыл бұрын

    Considering his fear of talking due to stuttering, it appears to have been QUITE an achievement to have done a TED talk. Bravo!!! I agree that education is an investment that RARELY can be taken away from you.

  • @schmetterling4477
    @schmetterling44773 жыл бұрын

    See, a PhD gives you employment options.

  • @axelashu
    @axelashu6 жыл бұрын

    Can I just marry you!! ... So sorted and so simple

  • @cjgatti

    @cjgatti

    6 жыл бұрын

    Haha! :)

  • @LavishPatchKid
    @LavishPatchKid2 жыл бұрын

    lol Because that's the only job you can get with a girl world PhD. You owe a small fortune for something that is worthless.

  • @servicekid7453
    @servicekid74532 жыл бұрын

    Really boring & pointless talk. Don’t trouble us again….