As I walked into the Vernon Hills Fire Department, a sense of wonderment filled me from head to toe. I observed as a fireman cooked in the fire station’s kitchen while the TV was on – I didn’t even know fire stations had a TV.
The fireman leading the way walked us through the dim-lit rooms with low ceilings. First the kitchen and living room, then the sleeping quarters — tall white cubicles with simple beds, duffel bags laid on top of them — the laundry room, and then the gym. I couldn’t help but keep thinking as I entered each room, when else in my life would I have the opportunity to tour a fire station?
A month prior to this moment, I recall running through the school hallways, gripping hard on to the informational papers I had collected during the Clubs Fair at lunch, rushing so I wouldn’t be late to my Driver’s Ed class. I was amazed by the amount of opportunities I had, and my mind was hopping between car maneuvering instructions and how I could fit every possible club and extracurricular activity into my week.
At home, I spread the papers on the floor and made a mental schedule: Thursdays after school, I have Media club, so this other club wouldn’t fit; Mondays and Tuesdays I plan on doing this activity instead of that. As I arranged and rearranged what would be my schedule for at least the next four months, one of the activities that struck me most was the Fire Cadets program.
The flyer promised training in the chemistry of fire, and handling hoses and fire extinguishers, among other things. In the beginning of the school year, I promised myself (after watching one too many cheesy motivational TikToks on how “we should truly seize every opportunity,”) that I’d try getting out of my comfort zone. Still, I was so torn between actually committing to my promises or just forgetting about the cadets program, because two hours every Wednesday after school for nine weeks seemed like such a big time commitment.
After considering the pros and cons and grieving the possibility of lazy afternoons, I decided to give it a chance and have an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience during the fall.
Looking back, I am so glad I did. I got to experience things I never would have otherwise in my life, because after all, it is not everyday you dress in full firefighter gear, put on an oxygen mask over your face and a tank over your back, and paddle through the obstacles on a maze in the Mundelein fire station.
I had the chance to meet the most interesting people, who, before the program, were just random students walking through the school hallways. I met funny people who would alleviate a whole day’s stress with their jokes and knowledge, peers who attended the Tech Campus for fire chemistry, and the first girl I’ve ever known — not just in real life, but considering every media encounter I’ve had previously — who’s going to be a firefighter.
From my experiences, I learned things I never expected. For example, when managing a water hose, the appropriate posture is to kneel down and rely on your core’s strength, because the water pressure is so high that when you turn the hose off gravity pulls you forward and down. I lost my balance countless times when managing the hose, and certainly couldn’t hit the target, because the hose kept pulling me from side to side.
But, it was so much more than just technical details. I also learned a firefighter’s role in serving their community, and how their job goes so much beyond just putting out fires. I volunteered to help at a breakfast open house at the Vernon Hills fire station by passing out informational packets and guiding attendees to a fire safety demonstration. It was after sweating and talking so much that I realized what I was experiencing ran so much deeper than I thought.
On our last day, the cadets gathered in the foods room and cooked pasta and Fireman Tony’s grandmother’s meatball recipe. Because firemen are on duty for twenty four hours, they need to know how to cook for themselves. What seemed like just mixing ground beef, seasoning, eggs, and white bread with my hands in a bowl actually taught me how to cooperate with my peers and be organized. It was the best pasta and meatballs I’ve ever had.
The nine weeks I had been hesitant about turned into a time I’d miss a lot. It was a time of having fun, being involved with the community, and, as Carter Kuska (10) said, “hanging out with cool firemen.”
I chose to get out of my comfort zone for the swift way the hose pulls you down, and the wet shoes and pant hems after learning about putting out a fire with a water tank vs. a fire hydrant. It was for the talks I’d have with my parents after I came home, my eyes brightening up as I explained how I was a superhero that day, then waiting for Fireman Tony’s photo compilation on Instagram of our adventures.
Moving forward, I’ll always be able to look back at the days I learned how to manage a fire extinguisher, and how that fed my imagination with scenarios where I would save the whole school. I’ll recall feeling so cool getting a ride back to school from fire stations in a fire van, talking and joking all the way back. But mostly, I’ll remember how glad I was that I took a step out of my comfort zone and dared myself to experience something new.
You can see what Fireman Tony has to say about the fire cadets at the Q&A with Tony Rodkey! Head over to the Countryside Fire District Instagram to see his videos of our adventures.