TJ Evarts is a dreamer. He’s an inventor. He’s an entrepreneur. And he’s been at it since he was a young child. FIRST, he says, had more than a passing influence on his life—it has become a lifestyle that defines who he is today.

Background

At 13, an age when most young people are just beginning to explore their own identity, TJ Evarts invented the SMARTwheel,^TM a product that may well alleviate one of the nation’s leading traffic problems: teens who text and drive.

Growing up FIRST

Involved with FIRST for more than half his life, TJ says the experience played a major role in shaping who he is today. From FIRST, he gained knowledge and a toolbox of real-world skills—such as teamwork, how to pitch a product or idea, how to solve problems, and public speaking—that gave him a big head start in his career. FIRST inspired TJ to want to help others and taught him he was never too young to make a difference.

Young Entrepreneur is Paving His Own Path

TJ is motivated by the excitement of being an entrepreneur, which he likens to being on a roller coaster. The ups and downs help him learn how the business world works. He plans to build his own dreams, and envisions a college degree and additional businesses in his future.

“It’s important to give students outside opportunities to explore, excel, and make mistakes. And help students to take initiative outside of the testing environment.” — TJ Evarts

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