Personal Narrative: Becoming A Full-Time Firefighter

Apply Yourself: No more D- grades

Becoming a full-time firefighter requires you to become certified through school or a Fire Academy. It was one moment at the end of my Academy that changed my attitude. Our instructors encouraged friendly competition among the students. They implied graduating at the top would aid in job seeking. They sat us down before graduation to announce who would receive the honors. I knew I applied myself through the class and for the first time I cared about the results. When they announced me as the top graduate I was relieved and proud. It is that moment that changed me from being happy to pass high school classes with D’s, to striving for the top of my class. I learned that applying myself and not settling

My father was a firefighter for Detroit and owned his own roofing company. I would work for him once and a while when I was desperate for money. I had thought about firefighting before, but the required education intimidated me. Becoming a Paramedic was now considered a necessity for a full-time position. That caused me to hesitate when contemplating the process.

I had gained some work experience and was sure I would not be happy doing the 9 to 5 grind. I made up my mind. I researched what I would need to do. I used my father’s Fire Department connections and asked for advice on how to gain employment as a Firefighter. I needed to go back to school. This time felt different and I was on a mission.

I signed up for the first available Fire Academy I could get into. As I started down this path I realized the career I chose was saturated with people who had the same idea I had. This was different from high school. I felt interested and focused. I was excited to learn. A few weeks before my Academy start date I broke a bone in my foot. I wouldn’t let the Doctors put a cast on it because I knew I wouldn’t have a chance with the demanding physical part of the training. I had a limp, but I was able to convince my instructors it wouldn’t be a problem. I limped my way to graduating at the top of the class. I was 1st overall out of 40

The Fire Departments wanted employees who were passionate about the job. My status as the top graduate in my class impressed my interviewers. Applying myself to the Fire Academy and gaining employment as a part-time Firefighter helped me land the carrier I wanted.

That moment when my name was announced as the top graduate changed me. I went from just wanting to pass to striving for nothing less than the best I could do. My career requires ongoing education in many areas. My Fire Academy experience has changed the course of my life and educational views. Minimal efforts and barely passing are no longer my attitude. To me now, doing my best in school or in life is the only course I take. If you are at all like I was in high school remember this. Find your passion and your journey becomes