In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th 2001, my world changed. The magnitude of the tragic loss of so many people through such a cowardly act had a huge impact on my worldview. I suddenly wanted to do something with my life, something with meaning. At the time I was an advertising designer, and somehow my career just didn't seem very important anymore.
I sat around watching the TV all day, every day like many of my fellow citizen's of this great country, saying "What can I do?" I sat and thought. I thought about all of the innocent victims and their families, they were just going to work like any other day, but they never came home. Then I thought about all of the missing firefighter's and their families. They go to work every day knowing that they might not get to come home. How must it be to send your husband or family member off to work every day only to think it may be the last time you ever see them.
It's a firefighter's duty to save life and property. Firefighter's have been doing their jobs professionally for over 350 years in this country, and how much thought do the average citizen's give to what firefighter's do unless their lives are directly impacted by tragedy? Even then, what do they think when a firefighter reaches out to them and make's a difference?
Sometimes they are called heroes, but it mostly goes unnoticed. Yet firefighter's are content to not receive any accolades, because after all they are just doing their job. But it's a job that means so much to so many people around the world every year.
On September 11, 2001, 343 FDNY Firefighter's gave up their lives doing their job - saving lives. Yet none of them would have ever called themselves a "Hero," they were just good, hard working men who were doing their job. And they did it with a sense of pride, courage, honor and loyalty. How could I go on with my career designing ads to sell products. It just wasn't important anymore. I wanted to be able to walk down the street everyday with a sense of pride in what I do, because it gives back to the world way more than it takes.
I decided on September 14, 2001 to become a firefighter. I gave up my career in advertising, and threw myself headfirst into the process of becoming a firefighter. I thought of those 343 men when I told my boss "I quit."
I thought of those 343 men everyday while going through Paramedic school. When I was down, and it sucked, and all I wanted to do was quit, those 343 men got me through. I thought of those 343 men every day that I put on my uniform as a Paramedic and every time I responded to a 911 call, whether it was a Motor Vehicle Collision, someone having a Heart attack, or the little old lady that just couldn't get herself off the toilet.
I thought of those 343 hard-working men the day I got the word I was hired onto the Fire Department. I thought of those 343 men everyday of the Fire Academy, especially during PT and the 5-mile runs when I didn't think I could make it.
And on Wednesday, September 14th 2005, 4 years to the day from when I made the decision to become a firefighter, I'll think of them again when I put on my Class A uniform for the first time and head into Florian Hall for my graduation from the Fire Academy. I only hope that I can do the job as well, and with as much pride, honor, courage and loyalty as those 343 men who made the ultimate sacrifice four years ago, and that I never, EVER forget!
I sat around watching the TV all day, every day like many of my fellow citizen's of this great country, saying "What can I do?" I sat and thought. I thought about all of the innocent victims and their families, they were just going to work like any other day, but they never came home. Then I thought about all of the missing firefighter's and their families. They go to work every day knowing that they might not get to come home. How must it be to send your husband or family member off to work every day only to think it may be the last time you ever see them.
It's a firefighter's duty to save life and property. Firefighter's have been doing their jobs professionally for over 350 years in this country, and how much thought do the average citizen's give to what firefighter's do unless their lives are directly impacted by tragedy? Even then, what do they think when a firefighter reaches out to them and make's a difference?
Sometimes they are called heroes, but it mostly goes unnoticed. Yet firefighter's are content to not receive any accolades, because after all they are just doing their job. But it's a job that means so much to so many people around the world every year.
On September 11, 2001, 343 FDNY Firefighter's gave up their lives doing their job - saving lives. Yet none of them would have ever called themselves a "Hero," they were just good, hard working men who were doing their job. And they did it with a sense of pride, courage, honor and loyalty. How could I go on with my career designing ads to sell products. It just wasn't important anymore. I wanted to be able to walk down the street everyday with a sense of pride in what I do, because it gives back to the world way more than it takes.
I decided on September 14, 2001 to become a firefighter. I gave up my career in advertising, and threw myself headfirst into the process of becoming a firefighter. I thought of those 343 men when I told my boss "I quit."
I thought of those 343 men everyday while going through Paramedic school. When I was down, and it sucked, and all I wanted to do was quit, those 343 men got me through. I thought of those 343 men every day that I put on my uniform as a Paramedic and every time I responded to a 911 call, whether it was a Motor Vehicle Collision, someone having a Heart attack, or the little old lady that just couldn't get herself off the toilet.
I thought of those 343 hard-working men the day I got the word I was hired onto the Fire Department. I thought of those 343 men everyday of the Fire Academy, especially during PT and the 5-mile runs when I didn't think I could make it.
And on Wednesday, September 14th 2005, 4 years to the day from when I made the decision to become a firefighter, I'll think of them again when I put on my Class A uniform for the first time and head into Florian Hall for my graduation from the Fire Academy. I only hope that I can do the job as well, and with as much pride, honor, courage and loyalty as those 343 men who made the ultimate sacrifice four years ago, and that I never, EVER forget!
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
egh.
Sorry about the ice cream, truthfully that's the same reason I didn't want it.