They say....

It truly takes a special person (or a crazy one) to want to be a Firefighter. You risk your life every minute, are exposed to dangerous toxins, are away from your family for days on end, and for all of this....you make very little money. (In my opinion, I think it takes an even more special person, to be a Firefighter's Wife. Wink! Wink!) Well why, you might ask, would anyone want to be a Firefighter? I wish I knew. But, what I do know, is that Sean is one of those special people. Self-sacrificing for others, dedicated to his family, and PASSIONATE about his job! His life. His career. His determination to be the best at what he does, is profound. He has had many interests and talents in his life, but he always knew that this was his calling.

The firefighter testing process varies from department to department, state to state, but they all have one thing in common. It's not easy. Back in 1992, not knowing the first thing about the process, Sean began his pursuit of his dream, applying for the Columbus Division of Fire. He sat for the 3-hour written exam, and learned very quickly, that this wasn't going to be easy. Nine years later, cross-country trips to Cincinnati, Boston, Charlotte, and Orlando (to take their tests), and a dozen or more applications, Sean took the Columbus Fire entrance exam again in 2001, and this time, scored in the 90th percentile. He was placed on the eligibility list, only to have to wait once more, until the City's budget was approved and a new recruit class could be hired.

In the meantime (and both of us working in corporate jobs we disliked), we got tired of waiting and decided that if his dream was to become a reality, we had to make it happen ourselves. We enrolled him in the FF I & II certification courses at Tolles Technical College. Already having a Bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University and very dedicated study habits, Sean breezed right through the courses, scoring highest in the class of about twenty. He was hired p/t to work for Washington Township FD, in Dublin, Ohio, while still working f/t at Sterling. The guys were terrific, hard-working, and wonderful family men. Sean is thankful for his experience there and appreciates the opportunity they gave him.

Finally, about 18 months later, his 98% ranking on the Columbus Fire exam, qualified him to move on and take the physical agility test with CFD, which of course, he excelled. He was selected for the Oral Board interview and selection process and thoroughly impressed the Chiefs, Civil Service Commission, and HR Reps. In November of 2003, he was called to duty with the Columbus Division of Fire. Woo Hoo!!

Five years later, Sean has earned the respect, admiration, and friendship, of almost every great firefighter in his batallion, high ranking Chiefs, and union officers alike. He has built the reputation of love for his job, like no other. Dedicated, committed, and focused on being the best, promoting safety and procedures, and serving the department with honor. So much so, that he was nominated to stand as a representative in the CFD Honor Guard. He is opinionated, yet humble at the same time. Risking popularity for the betterment of the department. Caring more about the FD brotherhood, than climbing a corporate ladder. It hasn't been easy, but it's all been worth it. We've never doubted our decisions and sacrifices as a family, and always knew that to ultimately achieve success, we have to love what we are doing. And we do.

Sean left Columbus FD in March and took a leap of faith to join the Charleston, SC Fire Department. Stay tuned for the rest of the story......