Asuan Farrell

Think of all the different places you might expect to have an epiphany. At the ocean, on a mountaintop, or out in the dessert under a thousand twinkling stars. 

Asuan Farrell had his epiphany while riding a bus.

He was traveling from his home in Schenectady to community college in Troy. It was one of those days when the trip was taking hours, and he suddenly realized if he was going to endure this ride to get to school he needed to make it worth it.

Up to this point, Asuan says, he was just an okay student. But he knew he had what it takes to be a very good student.

So, he began to really apply himself. He achieved a 3.84 grade point average at community college. And through his experience as a student athletic trainer, helping athletes recover from injuries and return to the field or court, he came to see that physical therapy was the career path he wanted. 

Setting his goals higher now, Asuan applied to Sage, was accepted and is on track now to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. 

“I really want to see what I can do,” he says. “It’s a competitive world out there. And like it is with athletes, you’ve got to work hard in the gym to have a better outcome on the field.”

You also need good coaching. And Asuan feels he’s found that in his Sage professors. 

“At many places it’s hard to reach out to get the extra help you need,” he says. “When I reach out to one of my professors, I hear back by text within 10 minutes.”

Asuan’s long-term goal is to work with athletes as a physical therapist and also become a football coach. 

In high school he was really into sports. Especially football. He played wide receiver and cornerback. He loved watching film. 

Now he’s watching the film of his life and career unfold and he really likes what he sees.