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Permalink Reply by Floyd Aldridge Jr on October 19, 2008 at 2:59pm

Jessica,
Making plans now and sticking to them is 2 different things. I know when I was your age(MANY MOONS AGO) I planned on going into the Army and becoming a chopper pilot. and a Volunteer FF. Well only one did come true, The FF one. I was a member of my FD when I was 17 and still in school. When I graduated I got a job with a friend doing Land Surveyor stuff. I was still a Vol FF and worked Security Part time. I took test for either FD & PD jobs and in 1989 I was hired by The DCFD. I'm now retired from DCFD on disability and when I get my health back in track will go back to being a volunteer. So Like i said palns are nice but they sometime dont get done. But continue to get your schooling and college cause now a days you cant get a job without a degree.

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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on October 19, 2008 at 3:15pm

I think it's fantastic to see someone at your age so determined to achieve something and to have it mapped out.

But, (There's always a but!) I'll bet it changes. Plans always do, for whatever reason.

Come back to this discussion when you're 18 and see what has changed. I think i changed what I wanted to do in my life about 4000 times!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Travis on October 19, 2008 at 7:10pm

I have accepted that odds are against this plan working out exactly as i have it layed out. The only thing i am fairly sure of is that i want to stay in both health care and emergency services, wether that be firefighting or ems or even an office job as a physicians assistant.
THank you for your posts
Jessica

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Travis on October 19, 2008 at 8:16pm

yea, thank u for shring ur story. the tip prolly is a good idea lol

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Permalink Reply by Firefighter Nation WebChief on October 19, 2008 at 8:21pm

This thread has been moved to the Off Duty discussion.

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Permalink Reply by united 289..{Dave} on October 19, 2008 at 9:35pm

I am a second genration firefighter at the Vol. station that my father was a member. He's now 91 retired. Believe or not if we are out on a fire he will still come out and watch and bring aid if need be.

Ever sense I was old enough to remember. When the siren blew for a call, This was before the pager world. It didn't matter what time of day or night. How cold or how hot it was I was drugged out to go to the fire. I would stay in the vehicle with mom or by myself while mom help aid the firefighters. I knew then I wanted to be a Volunteer firefighter. Well I have been on our Vol Fire dept for 28 yeras. That is when I turned eighteen.

The rest of my life didn't matter. I just took it as it came.

Jessica. This is your dream. You want it bad enough and I said bad enough. I really beleive
you'll get there. Maybe not the way you planned, but you will. Good luck Kid. May God be with you.

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Permalink Reply by Justin/ F-225 on October 19, 2008 at 10:12pm

I am 18 yrs old and so far my plans have worked out. We will see about the rest. I have a lot of wonderful people to help me get where I want to be in life. Right now I just want to give credit where credit is due.
*Warren County EMS especially Becky Jones, EMS Director, for helping me and tweaking the "rules", and making exceptions for me because she see's the great potential I have. Thanks Becky!
*All the guys, and woman, at the PVFD for the knowledge I have gained so far and for giving me the chance to start out when I did.
My plans are as follows:
*join PVFD as cadet (completed Summer 2005)
*FF1 class (completed Fall 2005)
*First Responder (completed Summer 2008)
*EMT-Basic (Start in Nov. 2008-June 2009)
*Graduate high school (May 2009)
*Join Warren County EMS (Summer 2009)
*Ivy Tech Community College for Paramedic Science (Fall 2009-2011)
*Stay with Warren County EMS as Paramedic
We will see how it goes.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on October 19, 2008 at 11:21pm

My plan was to join the Army to become an officer. In preparation for entry to the academy. At the same age as you are, I joined our highschool cadet officers corps and at senior highschool became Deputy Corps Commander (2nd in command) of the whole corps of cadets battalion. Graduated highschool as full cadet colonel rank. My plans changed when I fall 2 points short of our national academic test and secondly, fell short of the height requirements of atleast 5'4'' . Made few attempts to enter the academy but not succeeded even when I was in college. Scratch the military career option... went on plan B - continuing my college education in computer science.

Two years later, I was conscripted as a buck private in the army reserve. And this is my major crossroad in my life. During my weekend training, I met a U.S. trained EMT guy in a different city and he was in the process of organizing a EMS system in his home city. (during that time - EMS almost non-existent). Because of that EMT guy, influenced our company commander to incorporate non-combat courses like; First Aid, Water Rescue, High angle rescue, and our favorite - Firefighting! This courses are relevant in times of calamities as an army reservist. There I got hooked in a different path. Tried to establish EMS system in my city with the help of couple of friends. Sadly, 10 years later. We don't have an EMT national registry yet, pending in congress. EMS practitioners in gov't salary is not decent enough to support a family. So we rely on our respective city initiative, so it depends. No standard law - so you can claim that you are a "paramedic" but the credentials is not credible. It depends on the politicians and situations. So our present city gov't is not properly managing the EMS as suppose to be. So me and my close friend my Fire Chief, established a volunteer fire brigade to show our gov't counterpart what EMS system suppose to function and suppose to be. My education still come in handy I worked hard in I.T. industry but still played active role in EMS in my volunteer capacity.

I think, deep in my psyche or up bringing at the early part of my youth. I wanted to join the army to serve my country and protect. But instead, God bumped me to serve and protect my local community instead. It was rewarding for me in the end.

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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on October 19, 2008 at 11:34pm

Plans have a way of changing. My plans worked out until my second knee operation. You may end up living someplace without a VFD. Very common on the west coast. Being a PA-C is a very demanding career by itself. Couple that with FD commitments, your going to be a very busy person.

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on October 20, 2008 at 1:56am

Plans? Fantastic things to have, give you direction, aiming points. As long as you're willing to accept changes in direction as different things impact on your life. Not that changes are certain, just probable!

I wanted to be an Officer in the Army - medically unfit. Scratch one plan. Joined the Civil Service with the idea of building a long term career. Then tried for a short term working in the jungle of New Guinea (at that time a United Nations protectorate managed by Australia) as a Patrol Officer - medically unfit, I think... Then the Army decided I was OK after all and called me up for two years (Vietnam era). I decided that my girlfriend was more important than an Army career so got out after the two and back to my Civil Service job. Decided senior management was for me. Some years down the track went to University for another year and changed to the IT field. Became a volunteer FF. After ten years decided that the stress of IT and me didn't get on well together and went to administrative work. Hated that job and retired early. Now a full-time vol FF. Oh, marriage kids and divorce happened along the way as well - plans changed there too...

Plans? I had a few, but they changed. But, and it's a big but, perhaps I didn't have the drive to see them through? Didn't have the sense of vocation? And this all melts down to have your plans. Work towards completing them. If the disire for change comes to you, accept it and keep moving. Having an achievable plan is fantastic - go for it!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on October 20, 2008 at 3:10am

Hey mate, Seems we have both in common huh, Army and I.T. field. Had some screw ups and set backs along the way. In my case have no choice but to work in I.T. because its job security. Still, deep inside Oh, I wish we had very good EMS career here. Would like to work full time, help my community. For now, me and my friends are waiting for the next mayor to have our long time dream to come to reality.

Jessica, one more thing. I don't mean to be preachy but this is in my personal note: I believe your church teaches to let God help you with your plan. Yes, I believe its true and dear to me. You'll needed when a lot of storms in you life will come along your way. When things doesn't work out part, I think behind it all there is better instore for you.

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Permalink Reply by T.J. on October 20, 2008 at 10:27am

Actually I think its great that you got your plans set out Jessice, but my plans at 14 was NOT to be a firefighter thats for sure since my dad has been for 35 years and still going (fulltime) and I remember him leaving all the important things we had going on as a family and I wanted to be a mechanic............................................ Well now today I've been in the fire/ems service for 12 years now and would not change it for the world. I graduated and met a friend on the department and I was hooked!!!!!!!

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