[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/26/06]

Hey everybody, my name is Beth. I just recently turned 18. I have been dating the same guy for 6 months now; he has been a firefighter for a couple of years. We have been out on dates when he has gotten fire calls so he just runs them in his truck taken me along with him, so I have been on several calls. Of course I have stayed in his truck.

I told him tonight now that I am 18, I want to join our fire department and he didn’t take me very seriously. But I want it really bad. I have became passionate about firefighting. I can’t get him to understand that I really want it.

I feel like I would need his help and support because I have no idea what I am doing. How can I get him to support me and take me seriously about this and how could I go about doing this on my own to show him I can and REALLY want to do this? Please help me. If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/26/06]

You need to act upon your words. After all many say and believe, especially in the fire service, that "actions speak louder than words" and this is definitely true. I personally told my fiance that I wanted to be a firefighter 2 1/2 years ago and he laughed at me, but look at me now he takes me seriously, because I told him in 2004 I am signing up for EMT... I finished that, then I went through the fire academy and completed that and now I work for a fire department.

So what I am trying to say is, he thought I was all talk... after all, we have to remember in men's eyes this is a man's world and men dominate this profession, but that is not true any more. Women small and large from all walks of lives can achieve their dreams now of becoming firefighters.
Heck, I didn't even know that women could be firefighters until I walked into his fire station and saw a woman who was my same ethnicity and size and from that moment I knew that I needed to try it. Firefighting is very rewarding, but you need to put in the time and training to prove to him that you can do it, then he will take you seriously.

When I was your age, I wanted to be a police officer, so keep your options open, because a lot can change in even a couple of years. Good luck, and stay strong. Don't let anyone set limits for you, and remember you need to keep breaking through that glass ceiling that is put up above us women.

Deya

[Archived posts]

[Originally posted 4/28/06]

Thanks! He ended up telling me that he didn't realize that I really wanted to do this and he thought I was just joking, but he is going to back me up every step of the way!! So I am going for it. I am going to fire school in mid July. I couldn't be more excited!! Thanks. Wish me luck LOL

Beth

[Marley]

[protectNserve]

Good luck Beth! Keep us posted on how things are going for you.

[explorer221]

Yea Good Luck Beth. I hope to see you get your firefighter and be accepted into a station very soon!!
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Respect is not hard to receive as a girl firefighter. You just have to work your hardest and even more to recive it.