James Evans
Road to Recovery Leads to FM
On September 13, 2005 James Evans was involved in a near fatal motor vehicle accident on the New York State Thruway. Amongst his many injuries, James also suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In just a little over a year in recovery, James started to get depressed with a feeling of helplessness as he learned he would not be able to perform his line of work anymore due to his disabilities.
“I remember wondering what my future was going to be like,” says James. “I couldn’t even imagine where it was going from there. My accident was very life changing.”
During recovery, James’ girlfriend Bridget (now his wife), was attending FM. “I had always heard many positive things from her about the College,” says James. “In January 2007, I had accompanied Bridget to the College bookstore when literally, a bolt of thought had occurred to me, ‘Why not sign up for classes myself and pursue a new degree?’ On the spur of the moment, that is exactly what I did and I never looked back.” James pursued and earned a Business Administration degree in December 2008. “It turns out that I am a natural number cruncher.”
While at FM, James’ advisor, Robin DeVito, made a tremendous impact on James’ life. “Mrs. DeVito has always dealt with me on an open and honest adult level,” James tells us. “She has been very encouraging to me and my endeavors at FM. It is very important to have a good support network in life with quality persons such as Mrs. DeVito in it. Most of all, Mrs. DeVito is a compassionate person and that quality has helped to bring me out of a shell that was starting to develop as a result of my accident. I am very grateful for her efforts and assistance.”
Coming to FM has helped James find a new route for his future at a time when he most needed a change of mind, body, and spirit. “Through its courses and instructors, FM has enabled my wife and me to open our first business together, Trinity Fitness, a personal training and fitness studio, all the while still attending school.”
James’ plans for the future include earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business through Empire State College and continuing on for a Masters in Accounting from either SUNY Utica or Albany.
‘In addition, I intend to one day pass the New York State CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant,” James says.
In other good news for James, he and his wife are expecting their first child together. “Life should always be onward and upward,” says James. ‘“From here, in addition to achieving future educational goals and raising our family, my wife and I fully intend to make the most of everything learned at FM and apply such knowledge to constantly improve upon our business model at Trinity Fitness. We are very grateful to FM, not just for the quality of education, but also for the network of some of the best people of integrity I have met since moving upstate five years ago. I’ve learned that it’s never too late to go back to school and change direction; we have until our deathbed to learn lessons.”
