Edward Ball is a native Charlestonian. As co-owner and director of Mathnasium, he works across the Greater Charleston Area but calls West Ashley home. Charleston is Edward’s perfect balance of big city and small-town where he is happy to find himself surrounded by good restaurants and rich history but not shadowed by skyscrapers. It is this beautiful environment that Edward is proud to claim as his lifelong home.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I was born and raised in Charleston. My dad’s side of the family has been here since the 1600s and my mom’s side is from St George, SC. I have two sisters, one of whom is a local musician and music director at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Johns Island. My wife is also from Goose Creek and we were just blessed with our first child, a baby boy.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I graduated from Clemson with my degree in math and a minor in physics, but I’m a diehard Gamecock fan. After undergrad, I went to medical school for a few years before taking a leave of absence for family reasons. During my leave of absence, I began working as an instructor at Mathnasium in Mount Pleasant. Before I returned to school, the owner of Mathnasium offered to open a new location in Summerville together. After opening the Summerville location, in 2019 we finally opened our West Ashley location that I now call home. I had always seen myself becoming a math professor when I was younger, but found myself drawn to Mathnasium instead because it allows more human interaction, helps me get to know members of the community, and lets me work with kids. I love the work we do here because we can take kids who already love math and push them years ahead as well as help kids who struggle with math reach a point where it makes sense to them so they don’t have to struggle anymore.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Basil, Boxcar Betty’s, Five Loaves (Bring back The Parker please!), and Dog and Duck
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Tokyo; I love big cities and Japanese culture. I appreciate how much discipline is a part of the culture as well as how different Japanese culture is from ours. Going to Tokyo would also give me a chance to go back to the Philippines and see my wife’s extended family.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My all-time favorite movies are Lord of the Rings and Shawshank Redemption. As for TV shows, I have recently been enjoying Community. I can’t go without also mentioning my favorite books: Lord of the Rings, Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), and Ender’s Game.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Work on all aspects of yourself and properly balance them: spiritual, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Complete an Ironman triathlon.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Red Hot Chili Peppers or The Beatles
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
This isn’t necessarily a business but the entity of Charles Towne Landing. My dad and sisters worked/volunteered there, and I went to camp there. Now I go on walks with my whole family.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would go to lunch with Tim Duncan because he seems nerdy, he used to be a swimmer, and he is my favorite basketball player and the reason I started following the Spurs. I would like to talk about his drive and what it’s like to switch sports.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My favorite thing about Charleston is the interconnectedness of the community. Charleston has that small-town effect that leaves you constantly shocked by how closely you may know random strangers you met at the grocery store or a restaurant.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In 5-10 years I see myself with a couple more kids and working at Mathnasium. Maybe we’ll have opened a fourth location in the Charleston area.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I consider myself an open book. I would say that when most people meet me for the first time, they learn more about me than they would expect. One thing that people might not realize is that I love reading fantasy novels, but I was also a three-sport athlete in high school.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The top of Looking Glass Rock is specifically beautiful to me because it was during that hike with my wife when I decided I wanted to marry her. I also find the Pacific Coast Highway and Blue Ridge Parkway truly majestic.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
December, Christmas, and December 25th
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The cabbage bread pudding from Peninsula Grill
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mom; she raised me as a single mother and has been a positive moral influence in my life while pushing me to excel every day.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Coffee and tomato soup
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Charleston, family, relaxing
