When/Why did you first become interested in becoming an EMT/working in EMS?
For many years, I actually taught English at community colleges in Chicago and St. Paul. Although I loved teaching, I felt I needed to leave higher education and try something new! Thankfully, Allied gave this ex-prof a chance and I haven’t looked back. Being a nationally certified EMT is a real source of pride for me, and immersing myself in an entirely new field has been an exciting challenge.
How did your previous experience prepare you for working in EMS?
Although I knew next to nothing about the world of emergency medicine before I joined Allied, I knew that, if given time and opportunity, I could teach just about anything. Creating curricula and organizing and delivering content in interesting and relevant ways is something I took much pride in as a teacher, and it continues to drive my work at Allied.
What is the most rewarding part about working for Allied?
The students. When teaching required composition courses, you really have to try to win students over, as the vast majority of them would rather do many other things with their time. But our students are motivated and eager to learn, and it is very rewarding to know you will help them enter or advance in a career that AI can’t do!
If you could give advice to someone looking to become an EMT, what would you tell them?
Be curious and stay humble. You’re going to make mistakes–everyone does; but if you see them as learning opportunities rather than defects, you’ll keep improving and go on to do great things!
If you could live in any fictional world, where would it be?
I would live in the Marvel universe, because chances are I’d have some superpower, and I wouldn’t die because of multiverses.
