Everyone dreams of doing something big from a young age. Some dream of being football stars, policemen, firefighters, and even trash truck drivers... Me, I dreamed of them all. Still to this day, I go back and forth on what I want to be for a career. I am influenced by many which I feel in the end will allow me to make a well-rounded decision about my future. I found myself as a Volunteer Firefighter to serve my community and give back, but learned, it has taught me much more. At sixteen years old, I found myself wanting to start doing more with my life. I turned in an application to be an apprentice member at the Cave Spring Volunteer Fire Department. Throughout my now two years of being in the fire service I have accomplished much more than I ever thought I would. I am State Certified for Firefighter Level I, II and Hazmat Operations. I run the Membership and Community Outreach committees of our department and have even traveled to Cleveland, Ohio for the National Volunteer Fire Council Recruitment and Retention Conference. I volunteer to give back to my community because I believe service to your community and country should be a part of every American citizen's life. Unfortunately, the armed services was not on the table for my service, but Volunteer Firefighting fit right in. I get to give back to the community I have lived in since birth. Responding to non-emergency and emergency calls when the people need someone the most. I have seen death, but I have also seen life. I have seen destruction, but I have also seen resilience and rebirth. I am surrounded by those who have never seen what I have seen, but it shall be that way, I will be their shield. Being a Volunteer Firefighter specifically, I get to work and meet people of all walks of life. Previous/Current Career Firefighters, IT specialists, Police Officers, President's and Executives in large companies and organizations, and your regular run of the muck blue collar worker. Having aspirations to pursue multiple different careers, I feel that the Volunteer Fire Service is a great place to network and surround myself by different influences. Every person has different life experiences and every person I meet has a different view of the world. I try personally to get to know and understand each persons view and understand why they may see it that way. If in the end, I still do not agree with their view, I can still in good conscience know that I made my own informed view. Simply put, I volunteer because I can. I volunteer because it is a good thing to do, and I am able to do it, so why not?