@rambo @lyxzen and @missy I know I’m a little out of order this week, but this is a very important blog homework for me to do. The question is “What is your biggest accomplishment in life?”
I hesitated ever bringing this up because honestly, being in Savannah was supposed to be a temporary thing and if I went home after bringing this up, I would never be able to continue what it is. But at the rate things are going, I don’t see myself ever going back.
Okay, here it goes…
*deep breath*
I was a firefighter for 6 years and before I left, I was an officer for my fire department.
(it's so weird seeing me without tattoos now.... wtf was I thinking waiting so long?)
*phew* that wasn’t so bad!
To read on, click the spoiler! It's a bit of a wall of text, but this is super condensed for 6 years....
Now I know many of you will ask me, “wait, really? No way! You mean you were a paramedic or an EMT right? Maybe you worked as administrative?”
Lol no. In my time as a firefighter I’ve responded to over 1,000 emergency calls, I lived (actually lived!) in my fire house, and I responded and worked 9 house fires and 3 vehicle fires, one of which I was Officer in Charge.
This is a big accomplishment for me because when I started, I was just starting my senior year of high school. Between balancing school work and taking 2 classes at the fire academy, I completely lost the social life I had with those at my high school. Instead, I was opened to a world of professionalism, adrenaline rushes, and actually making a difference in people’s lives.
When I first started running calls, towards the end of my first class of the academy, I was not taken seriously at all. Everyone assumed I was there for the wrong reasons (because why would a girl want to fight fires or do anything heavily physical?) and I had to prove myself. Sadly for them, this was one of my favorite things to do. As time went on, it became less of a shock to see a female operating on the fireground after all the work was finished. I actually became quickly recognized throughout my County and finally started to feel like one of the guys.
That all changed (when the fire nation attacked *HARHAR*) when I announced I was going back to the academy to train for a promotion and the title of Officer. I was also in an extremely abusive relationship at this time so it was a huge step for me. Luckily, most of my closest friends and co-workers all believe in me and that I would be a great officer. However, many were not on my side, including my at the time boyfriend. Anytime I would let my GAD (anxiety) take over, he always lashed out about nobody would ever want an officer as emotionally unstable as I was and he would do everything he could to make sure I never became an officer.
Because of this, I was determined to become an officer. I stacked my classes so they were one after another, usually starting very early in the morning, and I spent all of my free time at the firehouse training and becoming the best I could be. I also helped to train all incoming probationary members and those who were advancing on the fire side of the department.
In May of 2015, I was promoted to officer. I was also the first female officer of the department. I operated as Officer in Charge on a vehicle fire in September of that year and sadly, had to quit because I had to move to Savannah for school at the end of the month.
But what I didn’t ever expect happened in April of this year. Every year, we have an awards banquet to celebrate all of our hard work the year prior and to put the spotlight on those few who went above and beyond for the department. This was the first year I couldn’t attend because of school and it totally broke my heart. But at about 10:30 pm, I started getting lots of drunk “Congratulations” from many members of the department. I was so confused and when I asked them what they were talking about, half of them wouldn’t respond!
I finally learned the next morning that I was awarded Firefighter of the Year. Not for my promotion, but because I refused to give up on training someone who’s officer had left them behind. In my few months as officer, I spent many shifts working one on one with that person until he was cleared for his promotion as a Firefighter. I never did it in hopes that I would be given any award. I did it because it was my duty, as an officer, to ensure that our members were trained appropriately.
I cried. A lot. It was also the same day that my mom was coming down to visit so I was emotional to begin with. Today, the award sits on my desk as a reminder that no matter what anyone tells me what I can or can’t do, what society thinks I should or shouldn’t do, or how long it takes, anything is achievable.
SO, if any of you have any questions about my time in the department or anything like that, please feel free to ask! I must disclose however that I cannot say what department I am from. Mostly because I promised my Chief I wouldn’t cause a scandal :P
