I provide a variety of services as part of a team including: emergency medical assistance, public education, technical rescue and fire suppression. I work at a combination fire department made up of both paid and volunteer firefighters.

EDUCATION | I have two master's degrees - one in business administration and one in manufacturing engineering - and an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering. I have my Firefighter One certificate and Emergency Medical Training (EMT) certification.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Do it! Take it one step at a time - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Make the commitment and let your passion drive you. Your first step is to go to a fire station and speak with the captain. Ask him/her how to get involved and what is available in your area. Everywhere is different. If you are considering a career in firefighting, it is definitely to your advantage to volunteer. Once you apply and are accepted into the program, in many cases, the department will pay for your equipment and training (could be up to about K worth of medical and personal equipment!).

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Volunteerism is the most basic, personal form of philanthropy so you must have a love for people. You should be a problem-solver, a team player and have mental agility under pressure.

how I got started | I came across a flyer put out by my fire department. I never knew they had a volunteer program. I filled out an interest card, but didn't hear back for quite a while (they only recruit every three years). I sort of forgot about it, but then received notification stating that I had been selected to test for the academy. I examined my already busy schedule (I work full time and have my kids every other weekend), but still felt as if I could make volunteering as a firefighter a part of my life. I officially applied and was admitted into the academy. I then added to my degrees the Firefighter One and EMT certifications.

why this job?| I chose to do this because it really represents who I am, what I love and how I would describe myself. It resonates with me. This is the "best job in the world" - even as a volunteer!

why I love this job!| I love to help people and I love being part of a team. Whether I am doing a mundane chore at the station or helping in a rescue, I am working with my brothers and sisters from the department. We are family. They drive and inspire me and all of us get to tangibly, positively affect the members of our community - often in their toughest hours. I also love that I get to exercise my body and my mind.

my typical day| I am on-call, so I go to my regular job, but carry my pager with me. I have made prior arrangements with my boss. I am at the station once every two weeks for a 24 hour shift. While on shift, I arrive in the morning and go through safety checks on equipment and meet with the captain to learn about the agenda for the day. I may participate in drills, go grocery shopping, meet at an elementary school to participate in fire safety talks, etc. My shift is also interspersed with answering 911 calls which, of course, is our priority. I also have continuous training sessions I participate in throughout the month.

what they are | Eventually, I would love to become a full-time firefighter. My experience as a volunteer helps my chances, but I am still on the bottom rung of the very competitive hiring ladder. It can be a long process and in the meantime I have to be able to work full-time and maintain my lifestyle. At times the challenge is exercising humility as I have to answer to men and women who are younger than me and have less life experience, yet I know everything is merit-based. Every challenge overcome reinforces the nature of the job - overcoming challenges!

all about growth | Volunteering is a win-win situation. As a volunteer firefighter you will derive energy from those you serve alongside and those you help. This is your reward and payment.

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