You’re welcomed into individuals homes with a level of trust that no one else has on their worst days. You’re there to help them and give them comfort and closure. You’re there to do your job and do it good without taking it personal. You’re there to do what some people can’t. Listening is a big part of this job, and I'm great at that. This job requires compassion for others. It’s meant for me. I want to go far in this career. This is why I strive for greatness. And no matter how hard I work it still doesn’t feel like enough. I was told as a kid I was lazy. I'm here to prove otherwise. I went through a world of horror that not many can say they’ve experienced, I'm built unique. Using my traumas to my advantage to help others when going through similar experiences is a gift I'm thankful for. In this life, you’re given two options. There’s the path you’re meant to go down, and the path that you choose to take. When you know you shouldn’t be taking that path but you do it anyway. Easily I could have gone down the path and ended up on the streets. The only answer for how I got to where I am today is fate and hard work. I cleaned up my act. For years I would blame my past for my actions. That excuse worked for a while, but after so long it was just an excuse. I needed change. I had a final straw that broke me and motivated me. As soon as I got into my call department, it was over. I knew I needed to change. And so the opportunity started for me. Today I am sitting as a Fulltime Firefighter who someone believed in. That person I call is Me. I am the person I am today because of my past. I wouldn’t change the bad experiences for anything. I am thankful for it all. Everything happens for a reason. Life will throw out curveballs throughout your entire existence. The only way we work around them is by working through them. Crawl, walk, run. Learn, adapt, overcome. If you want something, work for it. If you have a goal, go for it. The only thing holding you back is yourself. If something fails, get back up and do it again. Failed again? Keep trying. You will get there, it depends on how bad you want it. Will power is everything. The sky's the limit. Life is scary. People are scary. Opportunities are scary. Take the risk. Make it happen. I became a volunteer firefighter to give back to community, which turned into a passion for the job and got me into a full-time position now beginning my journey of obtaining my paramedic license. I will continue to strive for success and keep excelling in this field of work. This is the one job I will always recommend everyone gives a shot at, you never know. This is the best job in the world. Thank you for the consideration of my application. -Nichole A. O'Donnell