Former Ballet Dancer and Marine Returns to School After 20 Years
Jonathan Criswell spent much of his childhood moving frequently throughout California and Hawaii, and the instability in his home life, coupled with depression and anxiety, left him feeling directionless. After dropping out of high school, Criswell danced ballet and served in the Marines before coming to GS, where he is now on the cusp of graduating.
“I excelled in school…right up to the moment I dropped out,” recalled Jonathan Criswell ‘21GS.
Criswell spent much of his childhood moving frequently throughout California and Hawaii, and the instability in his home life, coupled with depression and anxiety, left him feeling directionless. By the time he was in high school, Criswell’s sense of purpose had been so diminished that he ultimately decided to drop out.
After about a year spent adrift, Criswell witnessed a scene from Matthew Bourne’s version of Swan Lake and, despite the turmoil he was experiencing, he knew what step had to come next.
“I was completely swept up by the beauty, artistry, and athleticism, and that helped propel me forward through a period of my life that I think would have otherwise lacked aim,” he said.
Inspired, Criswell began his ballet training in Hawaii and later moved to Los Angeles where he trained for five years. Dancing provided him with sorely needed structure and discipline, and in his last six months of dancing, he reached the pinnacle of his time as a dancer while dancing professionally for the Atlantic City Ballet company.
“Having achieved my goal of becoming a professional, I think I allowed myself to pause, take a breath, and to look beyond my own little world,” said Criswell. “I saw how badly the war in Afghanistan was going (2008 was one of the worst years, casualty wise). So many young men and women were giving so much, and I felt compelled to contribute to this effort.”
Criswell enlisted in the Marines Corps in 2008, and during the next seven years, was deployed to various locations around the world, including Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq, Norway, and The Gambia. He initially served as an infantryman before becoming a Marine Security Guard.
“The first couple of years adjusting into the military were difficult, in some ways; it was a totally different culture and environment than I was used to. But, I was dedicated and disciplined, and those qualities helped me through,” said Criswell.
Nearing the end of his enlistment, Criswell began to consider what his next steps might be. With the GI Bill’s ability to make access to education easier, he felt ready to prove to himself that he could be successful in academia.
“I think I was always frustrated that I didn’t finish high school, and knew I could do better. It was a regret that trailed me for nearly 20 years” said Criswell. “Luckily, I was fortunate enough to end up in the worlds of ballet and the military, both of which provided me with direction, passion, and purpose. I think I always wanted to prove to myself that I could do more, academically speaking.”
After hearing about GS and its support of veteran students through word of mouth, he knew that he needed to apply.
“I didn’t feel very confident that I could get in, but I knew that if I didn’t at least try to apply, I would regret it for the rest of my life,” he said.
I think I was always frustrated that I didn’t finish high school, and knew I could do better. It was a regret that trailed me for nearly 20 years.
Since enrolling at GS during the Fall 2017 semester, Criswell has taken advantage of as many opportunities as possible. Criswell is a political science major, and, in 2018, he studied abroad in Paris, giving him a chance to strengthen his French. However, it was his opportunities to serve the Columbia community as part of the GS Student Council and the University Senate that illuminated his path for the future.
“These positions allowed me to work on a huge variety of issues, ranging from food insecurity to adapting to COVID-19. Working on issues I was passionate about helped me to realize that I want to do that in the outside world,” Criswell said.
Now in his last semester at GS, Criswell is proud of the work he’s accomplished and has his sights set on law school. He hopes to help dismantle systemic injustices that have affected his own life as part of the LGBTQ+ community, but also the lives of those around him. For now, he’s focused on gaining experience in consulting before applying to law school.
“I made the decision to apply to Columbia as a first-gen, low-income student with only a GED. There was a lot of uncertainty in my life at the time because I had just gotten out of the military. I had huge doubts, but I pushed myself to at least try to apply and I am so glad that I did,” he reflected.