“Ugh…Not Another Story about Misbehaving High Schoolers!” contributed by Robin Myers

No, this isn’t another story about high schoolers causing trouble; in fact, it is quite the opposite.  These teenagers should be celebrated.  I say “teens,” but some are already serving their country, and their work ethic is something that, unfortunately, many adults can’t comprehend.

The Plymouth Fire Department offers a class for local high school seniors to obtain their certification as an EMT.  Students may get into the EMT class after completing a year of the firefighter class or “nursing class.”

Students drive from their high schools to Plymouth FD (Culver, John Glenn, Knox, Plymouth, and Triton) during the school year. These students have already passed the firefighter class the previous year. They obtain a high school grade, college credits, and certifications for completing the two-year program.

Firefighter/Paramedic instructors include John Lampkins, Chris Todd, and Paul Mathewson, who are all full-time firefighters for the Plymouth Fire Department. What may be unusual about this group is that the majority of the members are females, with six females and four males. Two are already enlisted in military service. One is a Marine, one is in the National Guard, and another is highly likely to join the National Guard (they are 18-year-old seniors).

Here’s what the students have to say:

Blaze Sheaks, (John Glenn). “I’m inspired by my dad.  He’s been in the Navy, on submarines, for 11 years.  That has been a positive influence on me, and I want to push that as far as I can.  On a sub, you have to learn to fight your own fires.  The local fire station was on the highway by the grocery store we went to when I was growing up, and seeing all that went on there led me here.”

Alex Morton, “Fire and EMT classes are really cool.  I’m already a Marine but I have to wait until I’m done with high school to know where I’m going to be stationed.  I’m going to be a mechanic in the U.S. Marines.  My dad, Jeremy Morton, is retired from the Army, and my Uncle Russell and two other uncles served in the military.

Katie Reichard, (Triton) “I am already on a pathway to a job in the medical field and thought I could use these skills outside of class that might not be specific to firefighting or EMT jobs. I can see myself being a paramedic, but ride-a-longs on ambulance calls will help determine what I do. I have one cousin in healthcare and one who is a police officer.”

Emma Miller (Plymouth), “My brother, Darren Miller, and my dad, Craig, work at the Fire Department. I followed in the footsteps of my family and am already a CNA.  I have a passion for helping people and am currently attending school to be a dental hygienist at Ivy Tech.”

Taylor McVoy, (John Glenn).  “Dad’s a firefighter, Brett McVoy, at the South Bend Fire Department, and my mom, Tiffany McVoy, works at Plymouth Hospital.  I’m a CNA now.  I’m 100% going to become a paramedic.  I have a passion for helping people and want to be there for them on their bad days.” (She attends high school in the mornings, drives to Plymouth to PFD class at lunchtime, and then goes to work at Miller’s as a CNA in Walkerton.)

Mason West, “I’m only 17, so I have to wait to enlist in the National Guard.  Most likely, I will be in the Military Police or an EMT.  There are a lot of benefits to being in the military.  I’m looking at my options.”

Lucas Mann, (Bass Lake, Culver).  “I missed the first few classes because I’m in the National Guard.  I want to do something different and help people.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life, so I thought it might be cool to be a firefighter, to go into burning buildings and save lives.”

These young people have many things in common.  Family or others, including the Plymouth Fire Department personnel, who have been a positive influence in their young lives.  They have not only the will but the determination to get in the game and make things happen.  These young people have the stick-to-itiveness and drive to make all their dreams come true while helping others in this community and, no doubt, around the world.

To obtain information on the CTE program at your school, contact your school counselor.

Article and photo provided by Robin Myers