Chloe Ball shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Chloe, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My alarm is set for 4am, and while I am a morning person, I need complete stillness and silence upon waking. I’m not the best version of myself without it. There’s something magical about the early morning hours – when the world outside is dark and still. I prefer to meditate to start my day, which – for me – is the definition of prayer. I practice transcendental meditation (using a mantra) before transitioning into morning
gongyo as a practicing Buddhist. I also visualize, in great length, how the day is going to unfold and what I am going to attract into it. While I am not in a meditative state for an entire 90 minutes, I am very intentional about starting each day – for 30 minutes – in prayer. [Winsor] Pilates immediately follows as it feels deeply nourishing to my mind and
body, particularly at such an early hour, and it’s a nice transition from a state of
complete inner stillness to gentle activity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chloe. I am from Bermuda, however, I currently reside in Washington, D.C.
I am a Reading Specialist and Literacy Mentor within DCPS, and my greatest
passion comes from igniting the hearts of reluctant readers every school year –
convincing them of the magic and excitement awaiting them in the world of books. This has been one of my greatest accomplishments to date!
As a reading specialist, I help support the literacy infrastructure of the school I serve – working to remediate skill deficiencies in reading for young learners who are reading below grade level. Through targeted and systematic intervention in a 1:1 setting, I work on specific reading strategies and skills to remediate deficiencies through high-leverage, prescriptive instruction targeted to meet each child’s unique needs. Regardless of whether I’m working collaboratively with classroom teachers and administrators, or with the parents of my private clients, the goal is always to ensure a unified model for teaching reading that is developmentally appropriate and that considers the holistic needs of the child.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I was bathed in love as a child. ‘Love’ is my earliest memory – if it can be described as such! Next to my mum and dad, the only person who arguably loved me more (if that were possible) was my paternal grandmother. I was forever kissed, cuddled, and coddled, and it was my grandmother whose sole purpose in life was seemingly to remind me of my magic. Long before I clearly saw, accepted and embraced who I was, it was my grandmother who did. I could do no wrong in her eyes, and she reminded me in all the ways words couldn’t that I was a gem of inestimable value. To her, it seemed I was perfect just as I was. It was as if her role was simply to drown me in love – all of us for that matter!
My parents carefully and intentionally curated our environment growing up, and feeling seen and cherished has left an indelible imprint on my mind as an adult. Naturally, as an educator now, I feel it is my responsibility to shower each student that enters my office with unbridled love and radical acceptance so that they too
recognize their own magic each day. I believe it is my job to remind them of their magic… especially when they forget!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d absolutely tell my younger self to: “relax and try not to worry so much about
things! The universe is actively conspiring always, and things that will initially be perceived as obstacles – no matter how painful or challenging – will turn out to be universal gifts in the end.”
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There is a persistent narrative that has baffled me for nearly 20 years. It asserts that there is little money to be made in education. I have not found this to be the case. None of my friends in education have either. While there are a bevy of
other professional avenues one could pursue that offer much stronger financial rewards upfront (no doubt!), if you are passionate about the work, and if you work hard consistently, the money will come. Your efforts, your hard work will be rewarded.
It is so important in life to not restrict ourselves (as I almost did) simply because of someone else’s reality or because of what you’ve been told or perhaps have heard through the grapevine. My mentor drilled this into my mind early on in my career after a well-intentioned, seasoned professional told me that it was
“impossible to earn a good salary, let alone a six-figure income, in the field of education.” That was discouraging to hear early on in my career. I later came to understand that that had been their reality in life because it certainly wasn’t mine.
In life, it is important to identify your passion, to be clear in your vision, to remove fear and doubt, to align your behavior, and to persevere. The opportunities (and subsequently the money) will begin to manifest in the physical realm when you do this.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Let me preface by saying that I was never particularly religious or spiritual as a young adult. I certainly never recognized in my 20s or early 30s that there was something enduring within me, or that the higher meaning or purpose to life was about connecting to one’s highest self. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed at 39 with a Lymphangioma suddenly on September 9, 2024, that I quickly discovered a universal truth: that life is precious and that, at any moment, our life could end or change in a way that is unimaginable. After a successful procedure back in December, I am now acutely aware that every moment is an opportunity to connect with the things and people that matter most to us — including the only thing we take with us when we die, our soul. While my diagnosis was not life-threatening fortunately, there were days that made us question this truth, and this questioning only led to a sense of immediacy – to live a life that remained authentic and filled only with the people and things that mattered most. No exceptions this time ‘round. What was originally the worst thing to “happen” to me became one of the biggest universal gifts as the initial diagnosis immediately changed how I lived moment to moment. When we can distinguish early on – and preferably before a diagnosis – between what is salient to our very being and what is not, how we will choose to use our time and energy will reflect this understanding.
