My name is Eric Tortora and I am from Northern New Jersey. I am a senior at Fairfield University in Connecticut where I double major in Finance and Information Systems. This past summer I came in contact with John through a good friend of mine. We made plans to do a photo shoot in late June. I was in the best shape of my life. I was training hard and dieting very strictly. A week before the shoot, John warned me to be extra careful to avoid any injuries. Does a 20-year-old listen? Nope. Three days before my first ever photo shoot I got hurt playing in a volleyball game that was sponsored by the company that I am interning for. I separated my knee, tore my ACL, MCL, and bruised a bone. Typical! If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Needless to say, the photo shoot was canceled and I was bedridden for the rest of the summer. I was very upset with my injury. I've never been seriously injured in my life and now I get hurt right before my chance to show off what I've trained so hard to achieve? It wasn't fair. I haven't missed a week of lifting in my six years of training and now I had to take two months off. There is an old saying that sums up my experiences this summer, "When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one that has been opened for us." That closed door was bodybuilding. It has become such an important part of my life that I couldn't take my mind off of it. I stared at that closed door for quite some time. Finally, I have come to see what was behind the other door of happiness that was opened to me. Behind it stood the important people in my life that have helped me to overcome my injury. My friends and family were by my side from day one. They inspired me to stay focused and work through my misfortune. They made me realize that a knee injury could not destroy my dreams; it would just make me have to work harder to achieve them. It was a pleasure taking pictures with John. Even though this was my first photo shoot, his easy-going personality helped me feel comfortable in front of the camera. He is a very professional photographer and it shows in the quality of his work. I now look at John as more than just a photographer, but as a friend. I am looking forward to working with him again in the near future. These pictures were taken only one week after I returned to the gym and began dieting again. I am now more determined to achieve my desired level of fitness than ever before. The best is yet to come. View
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