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Never Give Up.
To those feeling discouraged about getting on a service.......
Working as a law clerk in 2003-2005, feeling like, something was missing in my life. I grew up in a family business, in the mechanic service business, but pursued a job in law. After working in the legal field for 2 years, words cannot express my unhappiness, and unfullfillment. I did a lot of soul searching. What is it that I could do with my life that would make me feel like I am making something out of my life. One night my Uncle came over...he has been on the Toronto EMS for 38 years. He said to me, "look into the emergency services...job security, benefits, but most of all...you will go to work each shift, with something new happening everyday." He told me that if you are to be good at a job within this sector....NEVER STOP LEARNING! There is always something new to learn! That night my eyes opened to many possibilities. So coming from that legal background, the first thing I did was research.....lol...I went to a handful of ems, fire, police presentations. I asked many questions, and listened. I always had a keen interest in the fire service and ems...but police did not appeal to me...(there is nothing wrong about policing, I just was not into it). As I got to know more and more about firefighting, I was HOOKED! I am from Toronto, so I went to the Toronto Fire website and luckily they were accepting applications for the career preparation course. I applied and got in, and it was a good introductory course to the fire service. After that course I applied to the pre-service fire program at Humber College. With little money OSAP came to my aid, and I went in some nice debt to pursue a dream. I graduated Humber with honors, but most of all with many great friendships and skills that I can begin to apply to my objective. When I got out of school, I said to myself, that there will be a lot of competition. If you add all the pre-service school grads, trades people etc., you have a very competitive hiring pool. I felt the only way to get ahead is PAD MY RESUME. So, with my law clerk diploma, working as a mechanic assistant for 6 years, and a pre-service cert., what can I do? I figured, I love working with people and what better way then working with kids. I applied and got a job managing a school program through the TDSB. Very rewarding job. Then Toronto posted in 2008! Great I will apply and hopefully, at least get practice at a cps test. With some luck and hard work I passed the cps test, passed the interview & got hired for the 1st class! I was set to get married that year as well...life was PERFECT!!....until.......1 week before my fitness test at Brock/medical, I hurt my wrist very bad, which put me into physio for 3 months. I was originally deferred to the 2nd class. So I figured, get better and wait a few months and I am still lucky TFS kept me on the list...but the weekend they did the physicals, enough candidates passed that satisfied the 2 classes. HR called me shortly after, and told me that I will be in the 4th class, as the 3rd class in non-preferred candidates. At that time TFS was confident that there will hire 4 or 5 classes. As the months came closer to the list expiry date, not enough ff were retiring. And that is when I got the email that they will not be having a fourth class. I would have to re-apply. Words cannot express my disappointment and sadness. BUT the will to succeed was stronger. The job I had working with the kids was a contract basis, so when TFS gave me the conditional offer, I had to tell the organization I worked for, as they offered my a new contract...so I was out of a job! I ended up working at AMBUTRANS....I do not want to say negative comments..so I will leave it at that. Making low wage and trying to make ends meet...boy was it hard. My wife has a good job, but as a man, I want to take care of her, and begin planning a family. 14 months went by working at Ambutrans. I applied online for a posting working in an after school program with the TDSB. That panned out and I was even offered a manager job. With a decent wage, but only working 25 hours due to program budget. During my sting with Ambutrans I applied to wherever I could. But when Markham opened, I was so excited...great department, love the city! I got an invite for an interview in the 2nd batch hire. After the 1st interview...about 3-4 weeks went by and I got the call for the 2nd interview. Butterflies started, with a side of anxiety. I went in for the 2nd interview with everything....I left it all on the table! Another 3 weeks went by and then it happened again...an email for a conditional offer that I pass the CPAT and Medical. The last thing I wanted to do was get ahead of myself or hurt myself again. With a lot of faith, I passed the CPAT and Medical and I sign the Offer March 3rd, 2010. Through all the bs, working jobs to update your skills...I can honestly say it was worth it, because it will make me a better fire fighter. If you get anything from this....even when things look impossible, or 2000 people apply and there are say 5 spots....ask yourself why or how can I become one of those 5.
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I loved that movie! One of Tim Allen's best.
