Candidate. Not probie, not rook, not FNG, just candidate. This is the term used for probationary firemen in the chicago fire dept. Why is it important to me, you ask? No, unfortunately, i am not a candidate yet. But "candidate" is my nickname.

I was given this name by engine company 22 of the chicago fire dept(3rd shift). I met these guys about a year and a half ago. Those guys have been a part of my life ever since. Since the past summer I've been actually riding with those guys. I would show up in the morning and stay til the completion of the shift. We ate some great firehouse meals, took some necessary naps, watched some entertaining television, played some money-making card games, caught some adrenaline rushing runs, and got some well-deserved sleep(sometimes).

I met these guys at the scene of a house fire on campus at my school, DePaul University. I came up to them, said hello, they noticed my maltese cross necklace and we chatted about the fire dept. They noticed my enthusiasm right from the start and they even asked me if I wanted to come inside the house and see the damage. I didnt hesitate. After the tour they asked me to come to dinner that night at the firehouse. Little did they know I would be hanging out with them every chance I could. Once they realized I was going to be a firefighter and not just some neighborhood "groupie", they started calling me "candidate". So I've ridden with them several times already. But since I don't play softball anymore, I go to the firehouse EVERY 3rd shift. If I have homework and i need some place quiet, i go there. If I need some home cooked meal, I go there. If I need to get some "love" advice from grown men whom are married(haha), I go there. If I am going through fire dept withdrawals and need to get a quick fix, I go there.

So now we go back to that word candidate. Point is: I'm THEIR candidate. These are my guys and I owe them the world. I love them to death.