My name is Joel Lopez, I live in a wonderful coastal community in California with a loving family and a great group of buddies that encourage me to do my absolute best every single day. I am a high school senior who juggles his academics, sports, and fire explorer program. The fire explorer program encouraged me to start engaging in my future career exploration by introducing me to the thrill of the fire service and also granting me a ride along certification through the city of Oxnard's fire department. Five minutes before my first ride along at my local fire station had even begun, the sound of the fire station's engine response startled me. That alert filled me with more thrill and excitement than I have ever experienced in my short 18 years of life. From the moment I hopped in to the backseat of the engine my heart was touching the bare surface of my skin just waiting to jump out, but so was I. As soon as we arrived to the location of the emergency I grabbed the medical bag while I shadowed the fire fighter that was assigned to me for the day, then we made our way into the house where a man was laid across his living room floor, unconscious due to a fentanyl overdose. The fire fighter I was with administered chest compression while I gave the man air with a bag valve mask. The man's pulse was too faint for the lifepak to read his heart but the firefighter continued compressions with the lucas device anyway. 4 minutes later, the man springs up with a great gasp of air. At that very moment I felt startled but at the same time amazed at the life we just saved, knowing one day I too can be saving lives. Being a first responder means everything to me, In my life many people have influenced the way I think and go about my day but nobody ever influenced the way I live my life like my local fire station. In the fire explorer program, they taught us many things involving life saving and fire preventing tactics but also things like etiquette and respect. The way I think of it, being a first responder means dedicating your life to the safety of the public. By that manor I believe being a first responder has taught me what it is to be a human being with a great purpose. I strive to be a human being with a purpose greater than myself, I strive to be a first responder.