Maggie Smith
Multimedia Editor
Q&A with EMS Student Leah Clark
What exactly is the EMS program?
EMS in general is Emergency Medical Services. So it’s like the ambulances that come out, firetrucks, first responders, stuff like that.
Why did you get started with this program?
It’s kind of stupid. But in highschool they had like the day where you’re supposed to job shadow, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. And my uncle, he was a paramedic, and I was like, “I might as well go shadow him for the day. And I did, and loved it, and it was really exciting. And I was like, “Okay, this is what I’m doing.”
What impact has it had on your life?
Okay, uh, it makes me happy to get up every day, knowing that I’ll eventually be able to help someone. Save someone’s life, and I like it.
How have your family/friends/loved ones supported you through the decision to be a part of this field?
This is a hard one because…not really. They’re more like, “You’d be better if you were a nurse,” type of thing. But my roommate has always been very supportive. He’s always been like, “You can do it! I’m so proud of you.”
How many siblings do you have?
Yes. I have eight.
Being in a big family, has it been an adjustment to just now have one roommate?
Yes. You know the biggest hardship of that has been cooking food. At my mom’s house you have to make food for a lot of people! At the house I’m living in now you only have to make for yourself or two and that’s a big adjustment.
When you aren’t studying/doing school, what do you do with the rest of your time?
I’m taken up with work, school and studying. I go home, I water my plants, take care of my [fur] babies.
Have you done any ride-alongs in an ambulance?
Yes! I’ve been on five so far. This weekend, actually, I was in Tulsa doing one.
This field is a tough one, emotionally and physically. What do you do to deal with the stress of it?
Um, so my stress reliever is coloring. And sometimes talking about it helps. But you don’t want to put that burden on someone else. I don’t want to put that burden on someone about what I’ve seen, so I just color it out.
Do you think that after you graduate you’ll be prepared is doing enough to prepare you for what the actual career itself will really be like? Do you think there will be a big difference from being in the training process to being in the career?
I think so. My training for EMS never ends. The medical field is always changing. So when I’m done and graduated, wherever I go. I have more training I’ll have to do in the field. But I feel like from my classes that I’ve had I’ll definitely be prepared for what’s to come.
How much time do you spend working on your degree (in class, homework, extra studying)?
Almost all of it. It’s hard to squeeze in a forty hour work week with school.
When will you graduate?
Not this December but next.
Do you plan to work in the area, or will you move to a bigger city?
After going and doing a ride-along in Tulsa, I loved it there. So I think I want to do something big like that. They get different calls than what we do here.
How well do you think the area supports their medical personnel/police officers/firefighters?
I think it’s gotten better. It’s not the greatest, but I think it’s gotten better from what it has been.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years? That’s so far away. I don’t even know where I want to be next year. But in ten years, hopefully, the biggest thing that I want to have accomplished is doing what I love and loving what I do. And working to live not living to work.
Do you think being in this field is going to make you a stronger person?
Definitely. It already has.
What kind of relationship do you have with those going through the program with you?
We are like a family. A little story: some mornings someone will bring coffee for everyone, and the next day someone says, “Alright guys we’re all going out to lunch together; where are we going?” We have a big group chat. We send each other questions, answers, study together. It’s a big family; it’s great.
Who is your hero?
My hero …that’s a tough question. I guess I could say my uncle. Seeing what he does, and that he keeps doing it. He’d be my hero at the moment. It’s always changing.
What is some advice for someone who is considering this line of work?
Advice? Before you go on any ride alongs, make sure you know you’re not gonna puke at the sight of gory things. Make sure you can handle that before you decide, “This is what I want to do.” Because you get into it and you’re like, “Ew, gross.”
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