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Chemistry and the Fire department
12 years ago
I'll start by saying this...yes, when I first got hired for the FD I had a 1 week notice to get ready...unlike the rest of the class that had 3 months or more. I was physically in a bad place starting off.
A lot of our PT instructors came from one specific station, and to this day they do not think much of me due to my early on poor performance in rookie school physical training each day. This has changed, I am now what one could call 'fit'.
I came from a background of academia as well as industry having a degree in Chemistry and German. Many withing the department have a hard time understanding my decision to join the FD over making my 'gross amounts of money' in my old career (as they say).
Going on 5 years in the department (my 6th stating in Feb.) as well as being on the drivers list AND a special team, I have dispelled most trepidation many had with me. That is obvious in the phone call I received on Wednesday before we left for the con. It was one of the Firefighters from that station I mentioned earlier, the one that had the FF's that made fun of me for being the fire fighter that will "put out a fire by throwing books and calculators" at it. He called, obviously trying to swallow his either anger or his disgust at having to call and ask for help.
It isn't for him, mind you, it is for his sister who is going through medical school and needed help with chemistry. He called the hazmat station and they pointed him in my direction. He called and asked if I could help. I really could tell it was hard for him to ask me for help after much of the shit that had been given to me by a lot of guys at his station.
I went into today's tutoring session not trying to let that sway me. I was going to be professional and efficient as a chem. tutor for his sister. And I was. We accomplished quite a bit in 4 hours.
All I will say, is it is very very difficult to come from a career that is seen as 'white collar' or 'for smart people' into a very 'blue collar' and 'labor intensive' job. I think that stigma with me is finally starting to fade with most guys, but it hurts to know there are others out there that will never see me as more than what they saw the first week of rookie school.
A lot of our PT instructors came from one specific station, and to this day they do not think much of me due to my early on poor performance in rookie school physical training each day. This has changed, I am now what one could call 'fit'.
I came from a background of academia as well as industry having a degree in Chemistry and German. Many withing the department have a hard time understanding my decision to join the FD over making my 'gross amounts of money' in my old career (as they say).
Going on 5 years in the department (my 6th stating in Feb.) as well as being on the drivers list AND a special team, I have dispelled most trepidation many had with me. That is obvious in the phone call I received on Wednesday before we left for the con. It was one of the Firefighters from that station I mentioned earlier, the one that had the FF's that made fun of me for being the fire fighter that will "put out a fire by throwing books and calculators" at it. He called, obviously trying to swallow his either anger or his disgust at having to call and ask for help.
It isn't for him, mind you, it is for his sister who is going through medical school and needed help with chemistry. He called the hazmat station and they pointed him in my direction. He called and asked if I could help. I really could tell it was hard for him to ask me for help after much of the shit that had been given to me by a lot of guys at his station.
I went into today's tutoring session not trying to let that sway me. I was going to be professional and efficient as a chem. tutor for his sister. And I was. We accomplished quite a bit in 4 hours.
All I will say, is it is very very difficult to come from a career that is seen as 'white collar' or 'for smart people' into a very 'blue collar' and 'labor intensive' job. I think that stigma with me is finally starting to fade with most guys, but it hurts to know there are others out there that will never see me as more than what they saw the first week of rookie school.
My way was a little longer but securing the building will be a snap.
At some point he stopped yelling and wandered off