Index of University Press Releases

Aug. 8, 2006

High school program sparked local man’s interest
in firefighting, emergency services

Sarah Dittmer The Daily Republic

Laura Wehde/Republic - Chris “CJ” Robinson’s interest in firefighting and emergency medical services was sparked during his senior of high school, when he participated in a World of Work program that allows students to explore career interests.

Through the World of Work program at Mitchell High School, Chris “CJ” Robinson, then a senior, set out to learn about a career in firefighting and emergency medical services.

About halfway through the program, Robinson, 20, of Mitchell, decided it was the career path we wanted to follow. He now works as a full-time firefighter and paramedic for Mitchell’s Public Safety Department. “Once I got here, I didn’t want to leave,” Robinson said. “Either you love it or you hate it, and I love it.”

Robinson began working part time at the fire department while attending school at Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, where he majored in athletic training. After leaving DWU, Robinson started certification courses to become a paramedic. Robinson has always had an interest in working in a healthcare field. As a young child, he wanted to become a doctor and became a student athletic trainer at the high school.

“I was the one kid that didn’t want to be a firefighter,” he said. His career goals changed, thanks to his experience at the fire department.

Travis Carpenter, who has taught World of Work classes for seven years, said the program gives students “a sense of the real world.” Exploring any career path beforehand gives students the opportunity to learn about their desired field, Carpenter said. It also saves them time and money by not going into a career that doesn’t suit their talents or needs. Sometimes, students learn that a particular career isn’t what they had planned and decide to purse a different direction, he said.

Students participate in a six-week classroom session and are then placed in career fields of their interest with help from teachers, Carpenter said. More than 90 different businesses participate in the program, including city departments, Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, many banks and physical therapy businesses.

The students are treated like regular employees. They must show up on time and are given quarterly evaluations.

Robinson, like a regular employee, worked alongside other firefighters and paramedics assisting with calls and maintaining equipment. One drawback was that he could not assist with structural fires, accidents or other emergency-related incidents because he was not certified.

He said working with the department’s three shifts was a challenge. Mitchell firefighters and paramedics work 24 hours and then have 48 hours off, forcing Robinson to get used to a rotating schedule and continuously meeting new people.

Now that he’s working full-time, Robinson said interacting with patients is one of his favorite parts of the job. “To me it’s always about patient care,” he said.