R ANGER
May 3, 2018 Volume 88 Issue 12
A burning passion: By KIPPER SINCLAIR Ranger Reporter
There’s more to being a firefighter than just putting out fires. For many future firefighters, this career begins with a degree or certificate from Amarillo College. “It is very physically demanding. The training is very demanding,” Rodney Sharp, the new fire protection program director, said. “Training to be a firefighter also requires emotional preparation.” Brandon Williams, an AC fire protection student, said that firefighters are often the first on the scene of accidents and disasters. “You have to be able to draw a line, especially
Amarillo firefighters begin at AC emotionally. We are going to be subject to some pretty traumatizing things and you have to be able to dissociate from those,” Williams said. AC’s Firefighting Academy is an application-only program that accepts only 20 students. “We usually get anywhere between 25 to 50 applications,” Chelsea Brown, the program adviser said. “It is a selection process, not everybody that wants to get in gets in it.” Once students complete degrees or certificates, they can expect more training. “Most of your departments, even though you have gone
through an accredited academy, require you to go through a three to six week rookie school,” Sharp said. Students said the motivation behind becoming a firefighter is another reason it differs from other careers. “Whenever I was younger I just wanted to help people and I have always strived to help people,” Heath Ray, fire protection student said. Other students agreed, noting that their goals are about helping not heroism. “I just have this calling in my life to serve and help my community,” Tate O’Grady, a
fire protection student said. Fire protection majors can choose between an associate of applied science degree that takes about two years to complete and a certificate that takes about nine months to complete. According to the program website, employment opportunities are excellent for graduates of the Fire Academy since there are consistent job openings at city fire departments across the state due to attrition and retirement. The website also states that firefighters who
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begin at the Amarillo Fire Department earn $3,219 per month and can expect consistent raises. Starting pay across the state ranges from $18,000 to $44,000. Williams said that achieving success as a firefighter is about more than money. “If I do my job safely and proficiently and as efficiently as I possibly can that to me is success,” Williams said. According to Sharp, being a fireman is much more than just a job. There is the component of a “brotherhood” that comes with the territory. “In the fire service in general, you are a family and it starts on day one,” he said.
Speaker has sights set on future Lindseth, who nominated Frost. Ranger Reporter “She has an inner strength For many students, and a drive to accomplish graduation symbolizes her goals. She is a leader an end. For business and inspiration to those management major and around her. She demonstrates management skills commencement speaker the industry standards sets forth; Trina Frost, graduation is dependability, only the beginning of a whole punctuality, reliability, teamwork, new journey. emotional intelligence, “It’s really an honor because I never thought this problem solving, critical could happen to me,” Frost thinking and visionary,” said Lindseth. said. Lindseth said that when Frost came to Amarillo College seeking better given the opportunity to opportunities. Since she nominate someone to speak at began, she hasn’t stopped graduation, she didn’t have to think twice about nominating working hard. “Trina has taken many Frost. “When the email of my classes (most online), and I have watched her came across asking for continued growth throughout nominations, I sat and asked her educational journey,” myself who would be a good said business professor Jodi candidate and Trina’s name By STEVI BRESHEARS
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TRINA FROST
came to mind instantly. Like many Amarillo College students, Trina has overcome many obstacles in her life. She continues to have challenges that all of our students face; a full-time job, raising children, going to school, being involved in the community… Trina handles it all with grace and
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confidence,” said Lindseth. Frost said it is these qualities that allowed her to be successful at AC. “It’s a lot of work but it takes dedication and commitment. It’s something that person has to want to do,” she said. Frost said that her main motivation for attending college came from her church, St. John’s Baptist Church. Her pastor, Anthony Harris, is a big advocate of postsecondary education. It was Frost’s participation in a college success initiative that really pushed her to pursue a degree. “I was asked to be on a team of 22 members for the college success initiative. That group was formed to take students from middle school and high school on a week
long bus tour. Out of those 22, everyone had a college degree but me. So, how could I be an example to the students and say ‘you need to go to college and get a higher education’ when I didn’t have one? In order for me to push them, I had to push myself,” she said. Frost hopes to use the tools she’s gathered during her time at AC to own her own business and give back to her community. “Trina represents our Amarillo College students that have many responsibilities and obstacles but uses them to challenge herself to forge through to graduate,” Lindseth said. “She represents the College by successfully graduating and using what she has learned here to make our community a better place.”
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