MCC alum shares his story with ADN students
Evan Edwards knows a thing or two about resilience.
The 55-year-old Clarke County native and Meridian Community College alumnus has been showing others what determination looks like for nearly four decades, and he’s still at it.
Edwards spoke to the College’s fourth-semester Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students, sharing his story of a life-changing spinal cord injury and offering advice from a patient’s perspective.
At 16, Edwards made a tackle in a high school football game in 1986 that left him a quadriplegic. What followed were hospital and rehab stays and years of learning to adapt. “You can’t do things the way you used to, but you adjust and keep going,” Edwards told the class. “That’s the way life works.”
After returning home, Edwards finished high school with his class in 1988, then earned his associate in arts degree from MCC in 1992 and a bachelor’s degree in math education from Mississippi State University-Meridian in 1994. He went on to work as a private tutor, a community college math lab instructor, and a high school computer applications teacher. But for the past 25 years, his focus has been speaking to sports teams, churches, and student groups about perseverance, faith, and perspective.
For more than 15 years, he’s been a familiar face to MCC’s nursing students. “We invite him because his story gives students personal insight into what it’s like from a patient’s point of view,” said Annette Rigby, an MCC Associate Degree Nursing Program instructor. “They always say they’re amazed at his outlook despite his circumstances.”
During his talk, Edwards began with a hands-on exercise — challenging students to tie their shoes or write their names without using their thumbs. The point: to show how people can adapt when faced with new challenges. “If you did it a few more times, you’d get better and better,” he said. “That’s life. You figure it out and keep going.”
Student Ashley Burkeen said she was inspired by his message. “He never gave up,” she said. “He kept pushing through whatever came his way.” Another student, Sherwiana Lamb, added that hearing from Edwards gave her a new sense of strength and resilience.
When he’s not sharing his story with students, Edwards is involved in his church, hunting with other disabled outdoorsmen, and competing in shooting events.
Despite his physical limitations, Edwards continues to live with purpose, encouraging others, especially future nurses, to approach patients with compassion. “Treat your patient like they’re the most important person in the world,” he told the students. “Listen to them; really care.”
As he wrapped up his talk, Edwards shared one final piece of advice with the soon-to-be graduates: “Finish well. Finish strong.”
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/nursing.