I am not someone who was born knowing that I wanted to be a Firefighter-Paramedic. I've had, and still have, many interests. Luckily for me, there is a significant amount of overlap between those interests: service to others, personal and performance development, leadership. As a young boy I would often visit the police department my father worked at. I distinctly remember the sound of the friction of his boots rubbing against the tile floor, the sound of the duty belt and its contents making a cupping noise, and the jingling of his keys. To me he was Superman. I grew up and naturally gained interests of my own. I became obsessed with working out thus I naturally became drawn to performance and sciences pertaining to human anatomy and physiology. For the last 10 months, I have worked as an EMT in a robust 911 system: Fresno County. After taking an entrance exam, and undergoing an oral interview, I have earned a seat in the next Paramedic program cohort. Prior to starting EMS I graduated from Liberty High School and California State University, Fresno with a B.S. Kinesiology - Exercise Science. While studying at the university I was a Strength and Conditioning Intern working with our varsity football, baseball, and swim & dive teams - all while working in physical rehabilitation at a clinic. I enjoyed contributing to these teams no matter how small my tasks were. However, I wanted to be the one on the front lines rather than supporting from behind the scenes. Furthermore, I am now an EMT and Paramedic student. My long term goal is to become a Firefighter-Paramedic and serve the community I work for at the highest level. For me this profession offers challenges that I seek, a sense of identity, and the ability to make a direct impact on the community I serve. In addition to Fire/EMS I would like to earn my Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification after completing my paramedic training in order to either start, or contribute, to a committee within a fire department that is geared toward performance. This scholarship would help offset the cost of receiving paramedic training. Usually, I am not one to ask for help. However, my time will be constrained, hindering my ability to work overtime to cover the costs of tuition, books, uniforms. Receiving this support would allow me to dedicate more time on my craft with a peace of mind. I look forward to taking on the challenges of paramedic school and continuing to grow as a clinician, teammate, and future Firefighter-Paramedic.