Hobbies are not uncommon amongst teenagers. Many students find comfort or entertainment in their unusual skills. One student in particular has gained some popularity from his hobby of magic tricks.

Junior Ben Sadler started practicing the art of magic at the prime age of 10.

“My first trick was a coin trick,” Sadler said. “I think I learned it before I actually took an interest in magic. It was a trick where you would take a coin and pretend to work it into your skin where a bone is protruding. Then you would drop the coin, and pick it up with the other hand, and pretend to work it into your skin. The best part is that you tell kids to feel there and it does almost feel like a coin is actually there.”

Sadler found his interest in magic by watching programs on television about it. He eventually started to look into it, and picked the hobby up.

“I mostly do card tricks,” Sadler said. “I also do tricks that deal with sleight of hand, coins and rubber bands.”

Magic tricks help Sadler with his hand dexterity, and it always gives him a challenge.

“It teaches me a lot about how the human mind works,” Sadler said. “The main reason I enjoy it is because of the reactions I get. The look on people’s face right after you’ve done the ‘impossible’ is pretty amazing.”

Sadler may attract crowds performs his tricks in public, but he does not wish to make it his life’s work.

“I would definitely do a side gig,” Sadler said. “I wouldn’t want to go into a career as a magician. I would have to learn some kind of stage magic, and I have no experience, so I’d have to learn some of that. I want to go into some kind of computer animation instead.”

17mcrees@usd489.com