Passion When I first started as an instructor for our department, I was underqualified, with very little experience, and not very confident in my skill set. However, I had passion. I had passion for the fire service. I had passion for firefighters. Most importantly I had passion for the job....
In the realm of carpentry and craftsmanship, the adage "measure twice, cut once" serves as a guiding principle, emphasizing the importance of precision and careful planning before executing a task. While traditionally associated with woodworking, this mantra holds profound relevance in various...
On a cold January morning, we were dispatched for a report of an unconscious male, not breathing, with CPR in progress. My crew of three, including myself, arrived on location alongside the BLS unit and immediately began gathering the necessary equipment. It wasn’t until we approached the front...
Outcomes After recently being on the road for the past 5 weeks I started getting very anxious about being home. I wanted to make a positive impact on my family, my fire department, and my community in a way that FDIC, the National Fire Academy, United States Fire Administration, and...
My spirits were uplifted for those I saw in person at FDIC last month. I was honored to say a few words during our Induction and Awards Ceremony and would love to share with those of you who weren’t able to be in attendance. Perhaps the greatest compliment I receive is when I hear “I’m so...
Community Most of us choose the communities we live in. We choose them based on several factors. Often our job has the greatest influence that always seems to be whispering in our ear. However, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we can step back and look at what makes our community great....
On February 14, 2023 a 19-year-old Freshman at Auburn University made the conscious effort to place technology out of reach and “Look Up.” The result of that intentional action was life changing. For the first time in her seven months at the University, she engaged in a way that fostered new...
We seldom see the trajectory our lives are taking while in the midst of making the decisions that set that trajectory. You decide to go for ice cream instead of coffee and you reconnect with a childhood friend at the coffee shop. You reluctantly say “no” to a new job, fearful that it was the...
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At 1107 Nashville Avenue in Sheffield, Alabama sits a modest abode. It was home to my grandparents, my father and his two sisters for more than 50-years. Not only did is serve as the gathering place for our fifteen family members to celebrate during the holidays, but it was a summer retreat for...
Connection I think a lot of fire service instructors depend on the connection they create with the student to determine successes or failures with their delivery. Being connected as a class can produce outcomes that exceed all expectations of what the group might have originally thought. I...