Hello everyone! My name is Jessie. One step at a time, my life has led me towards becoming a firefighter - this is the next step.


A few days ago, I was unexpectedly accepted into a firefighter academy here in Sacramento!!!
I'm so excited, and ridiculously grateful.

There's a lot to do, and I need your help.
It starts in a few weeks, and I've got to pay for it now.
This is a full semester academy
- 18.5 units. 7 days a week
I will eat, sleep, and breath fire January 9 - May 25


Here's some of what I will learn:
- Structural Fire Suppression
- Wildland Fire Suppression
- Hazardous Materials Operations Level
- Confined Spaces
- Vehicle Extrication

What you are paying for:
$3000 will cover my: books, tuition, boots, gear, uniforms, SCBA, materials fees, and exams.

Here's the link to their website:
https://www.sierracollege.edu/academics/divisions/baape/firefighter-academy/index.php


This is an amazing opportunity for growth. I'm pretty sure it will kick my ass in ways I can't even imagine. I will be challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. After graduation, I will be ready to work as a firefighter.
I'm terrified, but I'm also inspired.

I know that it will be hard. I also know that I can do it. I just need your help to get me there.

If you can donate anything at all, it will help.
Thank you, truly.


My Journey:
For those of you who don't know me, an unexpected path brought me to where I am today. After college, I collected data for environmental studies. I measured trees, counted birds, and cared for stingrays. It was peaceful and rewarding work – but very solitary. At a conference, I discovered the world of wilderness emergency medicine. I fell in love and realized that I wanted to teach it. I quickly found myself back in the wilderness where I started to teach adventure education, teambuilding, and leadership.

After getting my Wilderness First Responder and Urban Emergency Medical Technician certificates, I continued to seek out more training and opportunities for growth. While on this journey, I’ve had the privilege to work with amazing teams of emergency service personnel (like Sac Fire Dept. C.E.R.T., US Coast Guard, and Search and Rescue Teams) who have dedicated their lives to help others. These experiences have been both challenging and inspiring – and they have shaped me into the medical professional I am today.

When I’m not volunteering, I work as an Outdoor Instructor and an Urban Emergency Medical Technician. I am a certified Wilderness Emergency Medicine and Basic Life Support instructor with the American Health and Safety Institute.