One thing, my dad is still working 6 days a week into his seventies at the community hospital; the only thing his 5 kids remember of him is how often he wasn't around.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Did I insult you by mentioning those lowly EMT's in the same sentence with the Fire Department you some day want to join?
In our County, the first responders to every medical emergency in the field, from motor vehicle accidents to medical emergencies to Fire Rescue Boat operations to fires are Fire Department EMT's.
EMT's are highly trained and highly respected members of the Fire Department.....At least in our County, at least in our Hospital and at least in our Fire Department if not in your MBA mind.
You are actually insulted that someone would even mention an EMT in the same breath with "Fire Department".
You are insulted to the point that you accuse me of "superiority" for mentioning EMT's.
Unbelievable.
You have shown the same holier-than-thou attitude in regards to your "volunteering" in a public school when, in reality, that is a requirement for your public school teaching certification. If someone does it differently than you, they are are lower than.........an EMT!
When your Dad or I drag ourselves out of bed at 3:00 AM to come to the Hospital to deal with a motor vehicle accident victim without any insurance whatsoever and we provide free care, that is "volunteering".
When I accept every patient in this County that walks or is wheeled through the Hospital door in regarldless of ability to pay, although several other specialists in the County do not, that is "volunteering".
There are other ways to "volunteer" besides putting in your required student teaching hours for your certification.
At least you recognize that your Dad did something.
Maybe this is the first time in your life that you have actually had a line of work that isn't totally irrelevant to the health and safety of the community. If that is the case, remember that there are other ways to "volunteer" and others have been doing it for one, two or three decades longer than you have.
Try to change your holier-than-thou attitude before you finish Fire Academy. If not, you are going to have a lot of trouble with your Fire Department colleagues.......especially those Fire Department EMT's you hold in such contempt.
Good bye.