LIFELONG LEARNING

Learning to be a lifelong learner

Expanding to become a lifelong learner involves a willingness to explore new ideas and approaches, to ask questions, and to be open to feedback and constructive criticism. It also involves being proactive in seeking out learning opportunities, whether through reading, attending seminars or workshops, engaging in online courses, or participating in informal learning communities. As I progress through my education in the fire service, I share what I am learning with my crew; I keep an open mind to learning new approaches to fire tactics; and I practice listening skills so that I am better prepared for addressing issues important to the individuals I am leading.

Bush School, Washington D.C. 2022

1st residency vs. Aggie Graduate

Bush School, Washington D.C. 2024

Making the transition

I would equate my transition of becoming a lifelong learner to that of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. The process is slow, but the results are remarkable. Graduating high school 82nd out of 108 students is not reflective of a good student. I was not engaged in my studies because I had already decided I was bound for the military, and the only educational requirement was a high school certificate of completion. It was not until I enrolled into a fire science degree program that I started to see how much I enjoyed learning. The transformation began once I completed my first semester of college for my associates of applied science in fire science. I was actively engaged in learning and maintaining a high-grade point average. I finally felt the accomplishment based on my knowledge and not my muscle. I would finally complete my associate degree after a few of life’s hurdles slowed the process. I was then very eager to take the next step and pursue the next level of my education. I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management degree program and once again found the fulfillment of learning about my personal interests. Fast forward to 2022 and dreams become a reality for me. I stepped out on a whim and took a big chance of applying to the Bush School of Public Service and Government at Texas A&M University. Never had I imagined I would have the opportunity to be a real “Fighting Texas Aggie”, but I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to learn at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Since, I have maintained a 4.0 grade point average and engaged in lifelong learning with fellow students who share the same interests as myself. This has truly been a remarkable story of change in my life.

You are never too old or too experienced to learn new tactics when it comes to the performance of your job. Extrication training.

An open mind to the world

Being open-minded means being receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences without prejudice or preconceived notions. It involves a willingness to consider different viewpoints, even those that may challenge our existing beliefs, and being open to changing our opinions based on new information. Entering the higher education sector has exposed me to people from all over the world who have very different views than I do. By entering engagements with an open mind, I have been able to expand my understanding of how I may become efficient at the tasks that fall within my job requirements. An example of being open minded is when I attended a Nozzle Forward training class. The material presented in this class disrupted the ways we had traditionally applied fire science, methods learned in the fire academy 12 years ago. By being open-minded and receptive to new knowledge I was able to add new tactics to my tool bag and take those back to my crew, which improved our efficiency on the fireground.

Expanding into the future

Expanding to become a lifelong learner involves a willingness to explore new ideas and approaches, to ask questions, and to be open to feedback and constructive criticism. It also involves being proactive in seeking out learning opportunities, whether through reading, attending seminars or workshops, engaging in online courses, or participating in informal learning communities. As I progress through the fire service, I find new ways to share my journey of lifelong learning with those I work with. Every shift I choose one topic of fire and one topic of EMS to discuss among my crew. Expanding on the knowledge obtained is followed with a visual demonstration or a testing scenario. My crew then provides me with constructive criticism on how well I delivered the topic and ways I can improve as an instructor for them.

Shattered Dreams Program allows the fire department to perform extrication training while educating the students about the effects of drinking and driving.

Two ears and one mouth

Lifelong learning not only requires the use of a great mind but also the use of great listening skills. My dad always told me, “Son, God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice as much as you speak.” That phrase not only made me a better student but also kept me out of a lot of trouble. Listening is a skill that takes patience and can be trying. We often feel like we have much to say, when the right thing to do is just listen. Listening escalated my ability to learn and retain knowledge, as well as improved the desired leadership skill I needed as a supervisor. Being a leader often requires one to show compassion, empathy and provide comfort to those you oversee. These traits are best exemplified by demonstrating strong listening skills when someone needs to be heard. Often a person needs to vent or get things off their chest. When you provide your listening ears, you show them empathy and sympathy. You are demonstrating to that person that you have a vested interest in their life and have a true value to their issues.

41st President George H. W. Bush

Namesake of The Bush School at Texas A&M University

What it Comes Down To

Lifelong learning is a journey that continues throughout life. Learning takes place each day whether we are doing it actively or passively. Learning does not have to take place in a formal setting to be quality learning points. The idea is to grow each day within your professional craft, family, and mind. I challenge you to pick at least one topic a day to add to your journey and watch how far you travel in life.

Being a lifelong learner and continuously seeking knowledge and self-improvement should be your "default setting."

-Mike Ettore (USMC Retired)

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