Paramedic School Tuition
Donation protected
The Past:
As many of you know by now, my ultimate goal in life is to become a firefighter. This is a dream that I've been chasing for almost 8 years now when I started acquiring training and certifications to allow me to apply to city departments around the greater Vancouver area. After a little less than a year of training and studying, all while holding down a full-time job of course, I had gathered the necessary prerequisites to begin applying for the job that I wanted.
A year and a half later, after several written exams and subsequent rejection letters, I managed to secure a position as a Volunteer Firefighter in a suburb of Vancouver. Eight months after that I got my first paid position as an Industrial Firefighter in the oilfields of northern Alberta, Canada. It was nice, then it was muddy, and then it got cold (really cold), but I was ecstatic! Finally, I got to wake up every morning, climb in to that big red truck and do the job that I had worked so hard for. However, those who know me also know that right about that time I had a one year old son. I would come home for my week off after being gone for two weeks working, wanting nothing more than to pick up my son and hug him. But when I'd get home it would take a while before he really recognized me. It absolutely broke my heart.
After a much discussion and deliberation, the decision was made to move home to California. The drawback to this decision though, is that none of my certifications that I had worked so hard to get would be valid in the US. After 3 and a half years I'd be starting over again from square one. So I did. I did the medical training again, started building my resume again, started testing again. Two years later I managed to get myself a spot as a reserve wildland firefighter with the local fire authority. A position that I still hold and continue to advance in. I've worked as an EMT to gain the experience required to meet the expectations of today’s fire service. I've taken more tests and filled out more applications that I can remember, but each time I do just a little bit better... make it a little bit farther... get a little bit closer.
Feedback isn't something that you're get a ton of with the testing and hiring process. It's either "you made it to the next step", or "thanks for your time, but no thanks". As I've started to get farther in the process, and talked to guys who have been successful in reaching the dream that I'm chasing, the one consistent piece of advice that I have been able to get is, "Dude, you've gotta get your Medic cert." "Go to Medic school." "Why haven't you done Medic yet?" After being let go from the most recent hiring process that I was involved in, an old friend who is a member of the department I was applying for pulled me aside and gave me this piece of advice (anyone want to guess what he said?) "Sorry, man. You gave it a hell of a run. Get that Medic cert and I'm sure you'll get picked up quick." You knew that was coming, right?
Now, I'm not telling you any of this to make you feel sorry for me. Far from it. This is a hard job to get. I've known that from the beginning. I'm telling you this long story to demonstrate to you how committed I am to reaching my goal. Committed enough to pack up my family and move north to brave the Canadian winter. Committed enough to start from scratch after three and a half years of hard work. Committed enough to pick myself and keep trying after countless rejection letters. Committed enough to do the one thing that I hate more than anything... ask for help.
The Present:
I've been accepted to a school in Riverside. The classroom portion lasts 9 months and meets two times a week so thankfully, I will be able keep working (and work I will). After that there is 160 hours working in an ER, and 480 hours in an ambulance as a Paramedic intern. Tuition is $9,750.00. Added to that are books, uniforms, background checks, and fees fees fees fees. $1,400.00 is needed right away to secure my enrollment, with another $1,400.00 due by May 15, and then monthly after that.
The Future:
Getting this certification completed is the last piece of the puzzle. I've heard it said that being a Paramedic takes your odds of getting hired from around one in a thousand to closer to one in twenty. With this added to the long list of certifications and training that I've amassed (all out of my own pocket) I know that the career that I've been chasing for almost 8 years now isn't far off. I'll finally be able to give Sheree and Jack the life that they deserve, instead of spending all my money on classes and training. I'll be able to make a difference in the community around me. And I'll be able to be the role model that I want to be for my son.
As I mentioned, I will continue to work my ass off to cover as much of this cost as I can on my own. And should I reach the point where I no longer need help, I'll shut this campaign down immediately. Till then, I can't begin to thank you enough for your support on this journey. It's been a long one but I know it's coming to the end soon.
As many of you know by now, my ultimate goal in life is to become a firefighter. This is a dream that I've been chasing for almost 8 years now when I started acquiring training and certifications to allow me to apply to city departments around the greater Vancouver area. After a little less than a year of training and studying, all while holding down a full-time job of course, I had gathered the necessary prerequisites to begin applying for the job that I wanted.
A year and a half later, after several written exams and subsequent rejection letters, I managed to secure a position as a Volunteer Firefighter in a suburb of Vancouver. Eight months after that I got my first paid position as an Industrial Firefighter in the oilfields of northern Alberta, Canada. It was nice, then it was muddy, and then it got cold (really cold), but I was ecstatic! Finally, I got to wake up every morning, climb in to that big red truck and do the job that I had worked so hard for. However, those who know me also know that right about that time I had a one year old son. I would come home for my week off after being gone for two weeks working, wanting nothing more than to pick up my son and hug him. But when I'd get home it would take a while before he really recognized me. It absolutely broke my heart.
After a much discussion and deliberation, the decision was made to move home to California. The drawback to this decision though, is that none of my certifications that I had worked so hard to get would be valid in the US. After 3 and a half years I'd be starting over again from square one. So I did. I did the medical training again, started building my resume again, started testing again. Two years later I managed to get myself a spot as a reserve wildland firefighter with the local fire authority. A position that I still hold and continue to advance in. I've worked as an EMT to gain the experience required to meet the expectations of today’s fire service. I've taken more tests and filled out more applications that I can remember, but each time I do just a little bit better... make it a little bit farther... get a little bit closer.
Feedback isn't something that you're get a ton of with the testing and hiring process. It's either "you made it to the next step", or "thanks for your time, but no thanks". As I've started to get farther in the process, and talked to guys who have been successful in reaching the dream that I'm chasing, the one consistent piece of advice that I have been able to get is, "Dude, you've gotta get your Medic cert." "Go to Medic school." "Why haven't you done Medic yet?" After being let go from the most recent hiring process that I was involved in, an old friend who is a member of the department I was applying for pulled me aside and gave me this piece of advice (anyone want to guess what he said?) "Sorry, man. You gave it a hell of a run. Get that Medic cert and I'm sure you'll get picked up quick." You knew that was coming, right?
Now, I'm not telling you any of this to make you feel sorry for me. Far from it. This is a hard job to get. I've known that from the beginning. I'm telling you this long story to demonstrate to you how committed I am to reaching my goal. Committed enough to pack up my family and move north to brave the Canadian winter. Committed enough to start from scratch after three and a half years of hard work. Committed enough to pick myself and keep trying after countless rejection letters. Committed enough to do the one thing that I hate more than anything... ask for help.
The Present:
I've been accepted to a school in Riverside. The classroom portion lasts 9 months and meets two times a week so thankfully, I will be able keep working (and work I will). After that there is 160 hours working in an ER, and 480 hours in an ambulance as a Paramedic intern. Tuition is $9,750.00. Added to that are books, uniforms, background checks, and fees fees fees fees. $1,400.00 is needed right away to secure my enrollment, with another $1,400.00 due by May 15, and then monthly after that.
The Future:
Getting this certification completed is the last piece of the puzzle. I've heard it said that being a Paramedic takes your odds of getting hired from around one in a thousand to closer to one in twenty. With this added to the long list of certifications and training that I've amassed (all out of my own pocket) I know that the career that I've been chasing for almost 8 years now isn't far off. I'll finally be able to give Sheree and Jack the life that they deserve, instead of spending all my money on classes and training. I'll be able to make a difference in the community around me. And I'll be able to be the role model that I want to be for my son.
As I mentioned, I will continue to work my ass off to cover as much of this cost as I can on my own. And should I reach the point where I no longer need help, I'll shut this campaign down immediately. Till then, I can't begin to thank you enough for your support on this journey. It's been a long one but I know it's coming to the end soon.
Organizer
Rick Warner
Organizer
Mission Viejo, CA
