Upon leaving the United States Air Force, I enrolled in college with aspirations of becoming a firefighter.
I had volunteered at a fire station in Illinois prior to my last deployment, and I was sure it would be a good fit after military service.
The seizure hit from nowhere, without the slightest warning.
His body started to convulse in his desk as he shook, violently crumbling to the ground. During his descent, he bit through his tongue and now blood began running from his sagging lower lip. I was the first to his side because I was seated near him, and I held his head in my hands and told the instructor to phone for paramedics. Shortly after the convulsions subsided, he returned to consciousness. Then the young man gathered his school things and left the classroom. I never saw him again.
He later emailed the professor explaining that he had thought the seizures were a thing of his past, but now that they had reared their head he would be taking a break from school to focus on recovery. That was it. I didn’t even know his name.
I was left empty.
This event solidified my thoughts about the occupation I had been pursuing and I changed my major from fire science to business. This isn’t to scare people away from the career, but the light should be shed on the things they deal with on a daily basis.
They are the first to respond in a crisis, and must always remain vigilant, for at a moment’s notice the lives of others may depend on their expertise. Coupled with a hot-ass work environment—and add in burning buildings and exploding vehicles—I quickly saw that this occupation was not for me.
I have enormous respect for individuals who answer the call of selfless service. Putting yourself in harm’s way to ensure the safety of others is honorable and righteous. Firefighters do these things on a daily basis, and I believe it’s important that we highlight their sacrifice. Thank you, Hillary Meyer, for sharing some of your story. I admire your mission and the relentless effort it took to make your dreams a reality! I’m grateful that Waterloo Fire Rescue is filled with firefighters like you!
𝙀𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚!
