Alyssa

Why did you choose Humber College?

Humber College was my first choice and I was very excited when I was accepted. It is a well-established and highly regarded program in the industry. There were several reasons why I chose Humber. When speaking with firefighters, many spoke highly of the program and recommended it to me. They thought not only was it one of the best programs that set you up well for the hiring process, but overall it gives great training and experience for the job. With this information, and how highly it was recommended, Humber College was a clear choice for me.

What are your career aspirations?

My career aspiration is to be a full-time Firefighter. It is a job that I am dedicated to and have a huge passion for. Enjoying the program has made it even more clear that this is the job for me and I am going to work very hard towards it. Eventually, I would love to work as an instructor at Humber College to help encourage others who are wanting to join the fire service.

How have the faculty helped you on the road to reaching your goals?

The Chiefs (Program Coordinators) and Captains (Instructors) of the program are nothing short of amazing! They are all extremely supportive and it is evident that they care for your success. All of the Captains are currently working in the service and some are even actual Captains and Chiefs in departments. This is special because you get to hear about their real experiences as well as get advice and guidance which is extremely valuable. The Captains are knowledgeable, passionate and care about making sure that you do well.

There have been many times when Captains have spent extra time to help me achieve my goals. I can remember one time specifically when a Captain helped me while trying to complete the water knot within 60 seconds. He did the knot with me, showed me special techniques, and did it left-handed even though he was right-handed so I could understand it better and watched me practice it so he knew I got it. I went from struggling to being able to complete the knot with 20 seconds to spare all thanks to this Captain's help. There are many stories like this at Humber. I have so much respect for the Chiefs and Captains of this program and I am so grateful for how they have helped me along the way to reach my goals.

What would you say has been the single best learning experience in the program you are in?

There have been many great learning experiences during the program. There is one experience that sticks out to me the most when thinking about this question. The burn days are by far the best learning experience and my favourite part of the program. The Captains rave about this experience as you simulate going to a real call. You get to put the knowledge and skills that you have been working on to the test by working with a real Class A fire in a controlled environment. It is such a cool experience to be able to see smoke conditions, how the fire behaves, and how it feels to be in a fire! You get to see first-hand and participate in being a ladder crew, rapid intervention team (RIT), entry control, and rehabilitation team as well as get to observe what an Incident Commander does. These are days that you get to push yourself out of your comfort zone and give it your all. It is an experience of a lifetime, a great learning opportunity and one to look forward to.

What elements of the program are best preparing you for your career?

The program is structured well to help us prepare for the future. There is always a theory portion so you can learn the information and hear the stories from the Captains then shortly following you have the hands-on portion where you get to apply what you learned in the theory classes. The practical days are always lots of fun and prepare you well as you learn your strengths and weaknesses, build confidence and start to learn how to make strong decisive decisions under pressure. Humber’s program has courses like the Emergency Medical Responder and Hazardous Materials that provide you with an opportunity to obtain certificates. There are courses related to firefighter's fitness and mental health which not only prepare you physically but mentally as well. Lastly, there are classes that help you with the interview process. I found this to be extremely helpful as you get to break down common interview questions and participate in mock interviews which lets you experience the interview process on a minute scale. Humber gives you the opportunity to gain knowledge on the topics that give you a well-rounded education and prepare you very well for the future.

Would you recommend this program to others and why?

I would recommend Humber’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program for those who are passionate and dedicated. The program does a great job of letting you experience some of the realities of the job both physically and mentally. It is a fast-paced, content-heavy, and physically demanding course. Firefighting isn’t an easy job so the program should not be easy. The program allows you to push yourself outside your comfort zone, build your mental resilience, physical abilities, and character. You will meet so many new people that will support you along your journey, learn so many new skills and things about yourself as well as have a lot of fun. It will definitely be one of your best 8 months ever! The program transforms you into a great, well-rounded candidate. Humber was my first choice and I will always be so thankful that I chose Humber’s program.