Nonsense Upon Stilts

Annenberg is full of freshmen making polite small talk about where they come from. Max. A Binder ’09, though, has a unique answer: the circus.

Before coming to Harvard, Binder spent his entire life traveling with the circus and performing 340 shows per year. With a father who founded the Big Apple Circus and a mother who is a fifth-generation equestrian, Binder began his circus career at age four when he played what he describes as “the cute kid” in a variety of circus acts. Two years ago, the circus needed a stilt-walker, and Binder volunteered.

But Binder’s life wasn’t all just circus fun. On top of performing two shows each day, Max also attended school five days a week, inside what he calls “a pop-up trailer that resembled a sardine can.” A professional tutoring outfit toured with the circus; since Binder declared at a young age that he wanted to go to Harvard, getting a good education was important.

The six months that Binder has been at Harvard have been the longest he has ever lived in one place. Binder says that dorm living is a step up from the circus; he is particularly grateful for hot showers and a bed that is long enough to accommodate his 6’2” frame. Though Binder says that he sometimes feels restless here, he is enjoying being around so many people his own age. For those times when Binder really misses the circus, he keeps his stilts in his room for a leisurely stroll around the Square.