Life History Paper

LIFE HISTORY PAPER

Life History

During my high school years I did not plan for college. My parents were not financially comfortable by any means and neither parent had any higher education. College was never a discussion and I was unaware of financial aid and grants. Because I had no further education plans after high school, I never applied myself to subjects I disliked such as English, science, and history, and I never took the SAT test. I did excel in classes that interested and challenged me though such as government, accounting, computer science, and math courses. One subject in particular, computer science, interested me and I decided that after high school graduation I would start a career in computer operations. I quickly realized that my personal and career paths were not going to As high school graduation neared I was excited about joining the local volunteer fire department, and I knew a college education was part of my future plan. My choices for schools were limited though because my father had prostate cancer and I wanted to remain close to home in case his condition worsened. After graduation, I continued to live at home and began developing my firefighting skills with the local volunteer fire department. I attempted college a few times, but challenging life events kept me from reaching that goal. It was not until after my father passed that I began to expand my horizons and make a college education a reality.

The day I graduated high school was one of the best days of my life. After struggling to get through high school it felt great to have earned my diploma. I also know how proud my parents were because they had both become fearful that my dad's illness might hold me back. Along with the excitement of earning my high school diploma, I also ran my first fire call with the local volunteer fire department on the day of graduation.

I joined the local volunteer fire department the same month that I graduated high school. I was only 18 years old, but I was ready to take on the world as a firefighter. I was also proud to continue the family tradition and become a member of the same department where my father and grandfather had been members. My dad was not an active member by the time I joined, but I was still happy to have that in common with him.

I felt obligated to go to college and started classes at Dutchess Community College in the fall of 1997. I did not have any clear direction, so I decided to start by taking liberal arts courses. Reflecting on that time, I wish I had been more focused on school. I ended up not attending my classes and failed out after two semesters.

I took my first firefighting class in 1998, about nine months after joining the fire department. My first class was Essentials of Firefighting offered as part of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Controls outreach program. It was a 40-hour class that taught students the basic knowledge and skills of being a firefighter. Not only did the course teach important firefighting skills, but it was also a great experience because I developed lasting relationships with the eight other new firefighters in the class from my department. Through this course and my nine months as a volunteer firefighter, my skills were developing and my love for firefighting was growing.

Also in 1998 I started my first job with Sloper Willen Community Ambulance as a driver/dispatcher. I was excited because this was my first full time job and it was in my local community. I was hired as a driver/dispatcher until I successfully completed the EMT class that I was taking. As a dispatcher I was responsible for keeping track of unit statuses and response times, as well as maintaining proper radio communications and professionalism with emergency units. I was also responsible for data entry of emergency records into the ambulance company database.

Once I successfully completed my EMT class and was certified by New York State, I started working EMT shifts. I learned a lot about emergency medical care while working for Sloper Ambulance. I worked under the direction of a few skilled paramedics who took the time to educate me about patient care. I learned the importance of proper documentation of patient treatment, how to communicate with patients about their conditions, and how to calm distressed patients. I also learned how to write a detailed and accurate account of the treatments and findings on State Pre-Hospital Care forms.

I worked at Sloper Ambulance for approximately two years, until I was hired by Grubb & Ellis Corporation as an Emergency Control Technician. Grubb & Ellis was contracted by IDM to provide fire protection and prevention, hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, and EMS care at the IDM Poughkeepsie site. I had a few friends working there who convinced me to apply for the job, which I never regretted doing. In this position, I received training as both a hazardous materials technician and as a confined space rescue technician; two skills that I knew would benefit me later when I transitioned into a career as a professional firefighter. I gained both knowledge and skills in areas with which I was unfamiliar and became more marketable in the fire services industry.

At about this same time I was elected to the position of second lieutenant of my volunteer fire company. I was excited about the challenge and the added responsibility of being an elected officer. I was also looking forward to leading firefighters on emergency scenes and conducting trainings. It was a big responsibility but I was willing to learn. I knew that I would need further training to effectively do my job, and I started taking courses specializing in developing young officers in the fire services. I also started reading trade magazines such as Firehouse and Fire Engineering. I needed to develop the skills of supervision, time management, diversity, and leadership for my new role.

After working for Grubb & Ellis for a year and a half I decided that it was a great stepping stone but not a career. I updated my resume and started applying for other firefighter positions. I began applying to municipal fire departments and federal fire departments, seeking job stability and a place that offered growth.

I received some help from my friend, Glenn, when Castle Point Veterans Hospital had an opening for a Firefighter/EMT. Glenn was working for the Veterans Administration Fire Department and gave a strong recommendation to the fire chief on my behalf. With the help of Glenn's recommendation and the experience shown on my resume, I was hired by the Veterans Administration in June 2001. It felt great to have earned a career with good benefits and a retirement plan. I had finally achieved one of my life goals, working as a professional firefighter. I also started to realize that I needed a college degree to progress and eventually become a fire chief or work as an administrator in the fire service.

In September 2001 I enrolled in the fire science program at Empire College in New York. It was a four year distance learning program offering a bachelor's degree in fire science. I felt that I was ready to commit to college at that point in my life. I had a purpose and motivation to complete a college degree; however, the events that followed shortly after my enrollment in college prevented me from reaching my goal. The tragedy of September 11, 2001, occurred during my first semester of school, and my father passed away during the spring of 2002.

I was working as a firefighter at the Veterans Hospital when the tragic events of September 11th happened. Our hospital was just 60 miles north of New York City so we went into a high alert status that lasted throughout the next year. We increased our minimum staffing level by one extra firefighter, and I went from working my normal schedule of 24 hours on and 48 hours off to about a 72 hour work week. The increase in working hours interfered with the hours I could dedicate to my studies. Although the overtime I earned was helpful, the extra hours at work negatively impacted my academic performance. The time commitment at work became too much and I ended up dropping out of my courses.

Then in the spring of 2002 my father passed away. Even though I had not enrolled in the spring semester because I was still working long hours, my father's death prevented me from enrolling into the fall semester classes. I was completely overwhelmed dealing with the emotions I felt from my father's death and I was unable to focus on schoolwork at that time. I learned that times of sadness and grief can help bring inspiration to do something positive. My father's death allowed me to finally analyze my life and helped me decide to do something for myself. I decided I needed to leave the familiarity of Castle Point and try something new.

I started sending my application out to other federal fire departments in areas of the country that interested me. I applied and was accepted as a Firefighter/EMT by the Fort Myer Fire Department in Virginia. I only knew a few friends in the Virginia area, but I could not pass up the opportunity to live and work near Washington D.C. This was the first job I got without the help of a friend's recommendation, and it was rewarding to know I got the position based solely on my skills and experiences. I was excited and nervous about taking the job at Fort Myer. The job required me to leave the life I knew in New York and move to Virginia. For the first time in my life I would be living completely on my own. I was eager to explore unfamiliar surroundings, test my skills in a new job, and meet exciting, new people. I was looking forward to the challenges ahead.

I have been working at the Fort Myer Fire Department for three years. This organization has offered much professional growth and opportunity that I would not have received in New York because the Commonwealth of Virginia has been accredited by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications longer than the State of New York. Through Virginia Fire Programs I am able to receive national certifications that New York State does not offer, and I have also had the opportunity to complete numerous trainings.

The Fort Myer Fire Department opened the door for me to join the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). I started as a member of the IAFF Local F-253 and shortly after joining realized I wanted to become more involved in the union. I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the position of Secretary/Treasurer of Local F-253 when it became vacant. I was responsible for all communications between management and the union. My other job responsibilities included budgeting, paying the bills, keeping accurate financial records, keeping accurate membership records, and other typical duties of a Secretary/Treasurer.

I was Secretary/Treasurer for one year when I was offered the opportunity to run for local President. I was elected to this position in the summer of 2005 and was excited for the greater responsibility it brought. I now represented all the members of Local F-253, was the primary signature on all agreements between labor and management, and was expected to negotiate the best terms and conditions of employment on behalf of the labor organization and the Fort Myer Fire Department. I also had the opportunity to meet many of the powerful leaders within the IAFF. This exposure helped me realize that I may enjoy a career in a labor organization. I started networking with those IAFF leaders. My goal is to make connections that may benefit me if I choose a career within the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Through these experiences and in speaking with my professional contacts, I have concluded that in order to advance I need to earn a college degree. Upon evaluation of my experience, I realized I could possibly earn quite a few credits from prior learning. I have taken fire services courses that are American Council on Education (ACE) accredited and am currently getting all my courses registered with ACE so I can send a transcript to Northern Virginia Community College. The SDV 298 PLACE course at Northern Virginia Community College will also help me see what other credits I may receive from my lifelong learning. I want to earn a degree in Fire Science Technology. After completing an associate's degree, I plan on transferring to a four year school to earn a bachelor's degree in public administration or fire service administration.

Though I lacked direction at the beginning and faced a few obstacles along the way, my skills and passion for firefighting and service have consistently grown. Through my experiences in the firefighting industry I understand the requirements for advancing in my career. I have steps in place and am focused on being successful in school. I look forward to reaching my goal of earning a college degree, so I can advance in my career and build a comfortable life for myself and my future family.