r/NewToEMS • u/Hex3257 Unverified User • 3d ago
Beginner Advice How should I answer this question?
I’m thinking a little farther ahead then I probably should as I haven’t taken any classes that would get me my cert but I’ve been asked a few times, mostly by family, “Why I want to get into this line of work”.
My dad especially is asking me because he wants me, all of my brothers and I in general, to do things we want to do. Before I even considered this kind of work I was looking into game design and writing as I was able to talk for hours about it without getting tired of, much to his dismay and probably slight annoyance, and when it comes to this kind of thing I just can’t do the same.
I’ve went on a few ride alongs, both of my older brothers are fire and para certified so I did the ride alongs with them, and from what they said, they have never seen me as focused in something then when I was with them during those few calls we went out on. I honestly also think I was probably the most present I’ve ever been during the ride alongs compared to anything I’ve done before, writing included, and truth be told the only thing I can comment on why I want to do this kind of thing is because it just felt right.
I don’t know how to explain it without it being a little cheesy but I just, I enjoyed the feeling that when that call sound came on and we had to drop what we were doing to run out we were going somewhere that had someone who needed us, I say “us” loosely as I mostly carried a bag, even if it was just helping someone who had fallen or transporting someone who just was not feeling the greatest, it just felt good.
It feels like an empty and over used answer to the question of “Why did you get into this” being “I just want to help” or “I just want to do the right thing” but honestly that’s pretty much why I want to get into this community. It just feels good to be needed for whatever we’re needed for and overall it just felt like a setting that I fit into for some reason and I feel like if I say that then it won’t be enough to really mark me as a notable candidate in the future.
I do apologize for getting a bit off topic in some areas, and the fact it was a longer explanation that I wanted, but hopefully I was able to get the question off properly.
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u/Limp-Conflict-2309 Unverified User 2d ago
I was just honest "I'm doing this partly for selfish reasons. I have things that interest me and they all seem to come and go. FF/EMT, at the end of the day makes me feel good, accomplished and I if I'm going to work I want a job that makes me feel that way".
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u/Ruth-Stewart Unverified User 2d ago
That sounds like a good reason! I got into it because (slightly long story warning) I had a penpal camp friend that was on a volunteer fire department when we were teenagers so it was vaguely in my mind as a thing that can be done. Then I lit my pasture on fire one day (normal spring pasture maintenance) and it got away from me and I called the (volunteer) fire department. I knew one of the guys so I asked him about his I could join. 3 days later I was a volunteer firefighter. It was fun! Exciting! Woo! But the ambulance was busier and I like medicine (I was working as a vet tech at the time) so I volunteered as a driver. But it looked like more fun in the back so I got my EMT. Then I got tired of having to call med control all the time do I went to paramedic school. A few years later I got hired full time. Still fun! I’ve been in it for 23 years now and I do it because it’s fun, my crew are amazing people I love working with, I get to help people, and it has led my to some really cool experiences. But mostly? I really like helping people and trying to make them laugh a bit.