A battery-powered Star Wars candle. A paper clip. A pair of wireless headphones. Junior Cameron DeStefano of Middletown has traded them all on his mission to upgrade from a paper clip to “trade my way higher and higher.”

After hearing a true story of a man who started with a paper clip and traded up to a small house, DeStefano decided to try it out for himself.

“My trading system always starts the same. I begin with a paper clip,” DeStefano said. “Once I get to a point where people no longer have things valuable enough to trade, I start over and keep what I have,” DeStefano said.

But some items are more difficult to trade for than others.

“The hardest item to get rid of was a battery-powered Star Wars candle,” DeStefano said. “I had that for a few weeks before I finally traded it away.”

Last year, he ended with a pair of wireless headphones.

Aside from his trading, DeStefano is known at CHS for his magic. He has performed at Coffeehouse this past year as well as Headstart last year.

“I first got into magic in eighth grade. My friend had shown me how to do some tricks, and I was immediately interested. He stopped, but I kept on practicing,” DeStefano said.

Most of DeStefano’s tricks involve a deck of card and swift hand movements to fool his audience. He cites the audience’s amazement as his favorite part of performing.

“When I find someone who takes a lot of joy in seeing magic, I love it,” DeStefano said. “It’s amazing to see childlike wonder come from a teenager or adult. It can really separate people from the stress of life, and bring them to a world of impossibility, wonder and awe.”

His favorite trick is one that always receives positive feedback.

“My favorite trick is one of the two I performed for Coffeehouse, the trick where two signed selections switch from one mouth to the other,” DeStefano said. “It’s truly impossible, there is very little sleight of hand to see, so it’s a great crowd fooler.”

DeStefano plans to continue to perform magic in the future.

“It’s become a part of who I am,” DeStefano said. “And I wish to continue bringing people enjoyment with it.”