Vent about age

S

Sandiistaken123

Forum Probie
26
1
3
Sometimes it kind of gets on me how people in my workplace make fun of me for being a 16 year old girl, I know that I’m young, but I don’t understand it. I’ve passed my practical and am going into my state exam. I’ve done well on my ride alongs. But the chief examiner at my practical laughed at me and asked if my mom was picking me up, almost mockingly, and I feel like a lot of other students don’t take me seriously. It kind of bothers me tbh because in my state, the minimum age for being an EMT is 16, and so far, I’m doing pretty well and am just as capable. I’ve done a lot of studying to be here, I’ve given rescue breaths to someone in cardiac arrest for 20 minutes in my first ride along. I take myself pretty seriously. Is there any reason why others don’t?
 
Phillyrube

Phillyrube

Leading Chief
190
118
43
Sandiistaken123 said:
Sometimes it kind of gets on me how people in my workplace make fun of me for being a 16 year old girl, I know that I’m young, but I don’t understand it. I’ve passed my practical and am going into my state exam. I’ve done well on my ride alongs. But the chief examiner at my practical laughed at me and asked if my mom was picking me up, almost mockingly, and I feel like a lot of other students don’t take me seriously. It kind of bothers me tbh because in my state, the minimum age for being an EMT is 16, and so far, I’m doing pretty well and am just as capable. I’ve done a lot of studying to be here, I’ve given rescue breaths to someone in cardiac arrest for 20 minutes in my first ride along. I take myself pretty seriously. Is there any reason why others don’t?
Click to expand...
 
Phillyrube

Phillyrube

Leading Chief
190
118
43
Keep doing what you're doing. They'll stop.
 
M

mgr22

Forum Deputy Chief
1,660
820
113
Sandiistaken123 said:
Sometimes it kind of gets on me how people in my workplace make fun of me for being a 16 year old girl, I know that I’m young, but I don’t understand it. I’ve passed my practical and am going into my state exam. I’ve done well on my ride alongs. But the chief examiner at my practical laughed at me and asked if my mom was picking me up, almost mockingly, and I feel like a lot of other students don’t take me seriously. It kind of bothers me tbh because in my state, the minimum age for being an EMT is 16, and so far, I’m doing pretty well and am just as capable. I’ve done a lot of studying to be here, I’ve given rescue breaths to someone in cardiac arrest for 20 minutes in my first ride along. I take myself pretty seriously. Is there any reason why others don’t?
Click to expand...
If people are just joking around with you about your age, and there's no abusive behavior, that's a normal part of being new to EMS (and many other endeavors). Try going along and getting along.

You are young. When I started in EMS, I had the opposite situation: I was old (still am), and I had to put up with jokes about that. Such kidding is usually temporary and not a big deal. It doesn't necessarily mean people don't take us seriously.

If it's any consolation, I'd rather be your age than mine.
 
CCCSD

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
1,768
1,084
113
Legally you’re a child and not an adult unless emancipated.

You have much to learn about life, no matter what you are doing.

Thats the Real World.
 
C

ChristopherM

Forum Crew Member
40
14
8
I would just focus on your goals. A degree of teasing is a reality of EMS , though no one should be abusive or disrespectful. If you continue to demonstrate that you take the job seriously and work hard I am sure most people will gain respect for you no matter your age. Also try not to take yourself so seriously that you are unable to accept feedback and criticism. All of us make mistakes and need assistance. Best of luck in your career.
 
ffemt8978

ffemt8978

Forum Vice-Principal
Community Leader
11,031
1,479
113
CCCSD said:
Legally you’re a child and not an adult unless emancipated.

You have much to learn about life, no matter what you are doing.

Thats the Real World.
Click to expand...
Real world has way too many adult aged people acting like children, so age is less of an issue than maturity.
 
CCCSD

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
1,768
1,084
113
ffemt8978 said:
Real world has way too many adult aged people acting like children, so age is less of an issue than maturity.
Click to expand...
And maturity comes with age. Based on other postings, and multiple peer reviewed publication, the OP is too young and not developed mentally to be placed in this area of life.

That’s reality.
 
F

FiremanMike

Just a dude
1,137
703
113
CCCSD said:
And maturity comes with age. Based on other postings, and multiple peer reviewed publication, the OP is too young and not developed mentally to be placed in this area of life.

That’s reality.
Click to expand...
Respectfully - I hope you’re not as grumpy and cantankerous in person as you are on these forums.

If you are, take a month off somewhere tropical, life is too short to be as angry and judgmental as you come across with your posts.
 
C

chriscemt

Forum Lieutenant
177
51
28
My agency has high school students ride along at one of our stations. It's incredible the lack of real maturity every one of those students has and I would personally be appalled if my boss told us we were hiring one of them. There's a tremendous amount of growth to occur between the ages of 16 and say, 23, or even 19... and even the brightest 19 year olds are bound to be immature.

If you were riding along here I wouldn't allow any abuse or disrespect to be flung your way (frankly, I think you need to earn that) but I also wouldn't tread lightly to remind you of your place as a student.

Good luck.
 
OP
OP
S

Sandiistaken123

Forum Probie
26
1
3
chriscemt said:
My agency has high school students ride along at one of our stations. It's incredible the lack of real maturity every one of those students has and I would personally be appalled if my boss told us we were hiring one of them. There's a tremendous amount of growth to occur between the ages of 16 and say, 23, or even 19... and even the brightest 19 year olds are bound to be immature.

If you were riding along here I wouldn't allow any abuse or disrespect to be flung your way (frankly, I think you need to earn that) but I also wouldn't tread lightly to remind you of your place as a student.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
As someone with autism, I’ve noticed that I’m a lot more mature for my age, but I understand where you’re coming from.
Thank you for the good luck.
 
CCCSD

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
1,768
1,084
113
Sandiistaken123 said:
As someone with autism, I’ve noticed that I’m a lot more mature for my age, but I understand where you’re coming from.
Thank you for the good luck.
Click to expand...
That’s wholly your opinion, not necessarily the way others see you.
 
CCCSD

CCCSD

Forum Deputy Chief
1,768
1,084
113
FiremanMike said:
Respectfully - I hope you’re not as grumpy and cantankerous in person as you are on these forums.

If you are, take a month off somewhere tropical, life is too short to be as angry and judgmental as you come across with your posts.
Click to expand...
I’m entitled to my opinion, based on 40 years of doing this. Apparently, unless we hug and talk about Feelz, we are grumpy and rude.

Got news for you: 16 year olds are 16 year olds. None of them are mature enough to handle life right now, hence why they are Minors. The lack of maturity shown by the newer generations who haven’t had anything hard to deal with decreases their level of maturity.

Based on the OPs statements on here, they are an Autistic 16 year old. So you’d trust them driving a car, carrying a weapon, voting, etc….

Thats the Real World, not the Feelz you want it to be. It can be Evil, Deadly, and unfriendly, as evidenced by events. But you seem to think that it’s all roses and rainbows, as long as we Koom bye yah.

Don’t know where you’ve been, doubt its ever been in a High Threat Zone, Third World country with zero medicine, but you might serve the youth better if you teach them reality, not fantasy.

Im sure you’ll pout and try and delete this and ban me, but that would show how intolerant of reality you are.

I’m actually quite rested, take vacations each year, and am not angry at all. Why is a criticism always “anger”? Feelz right?
 
C

ChristopherM

Forum Crew Member
40
14
8
CCCSD said:
I’m entitled to my opinion, based on 40 years of doing this. Apparently, unless we hug and talk about Feelz, we are grumpy and rude.

Got news for you: 16 year olds are 16 year olds. None of them are mature enough to handle life right now, hence why they are Minors. The lack of maturity shown by the newer generations who haven’t had anything hard to deal with decreases their level of maturity.

Based on the OPs statements on here, they are an Autistic 16 year old. So you’d trust them driving a car, carrying a weapon, voting, etc….

Thats the Real World, not the Feelz you want it to be. It can be Evil, Deadly, and unfriendly, as evidenced by events. But you seem to think that it’s all roses and rainbows, as long as we Koom bye yah.

Don’t know where you’ve been, doubt its ever been in a High Threat Zone, Third World country with zero medicine, but you might serve the youth better if you teach them reality, not fantasy.

Im sure you’ll pout and try and delete this and ban me, but that would show how intolerant of reality you are.

I’m actually quite rested, take vacations each year, and am not angry at all. Why is a criticism always “anger”? Feelz right?
Click to expand...
I don't doubt your experience, but your posts are exceedingly cantankerous. No one said you were not entitled to an opinion. You constantly reference your years of service but cast doubt on the experience of everyone else all the time. And your assertion that young people somehow have no real problems just comes across as unhinged. I mean , how mature is to act like someone is actually trying to ban you and use words like "feelz" whatever that means. What is the point on a thread where a 16 year old is asking for some perspective.
 
Last edited:
F

FiremanMike

Just a dude
1,137
703
113
CCCSD said:
I’m entitled to my opinion, based on 40 years of doing this. Apparently, unless we hug and talk about Feelz, we are grumpy and rude.

Got news for you: 16 year olds are 16 year olds. None of them are mature enough to handle life right now, hence why they are Minors. The lack of maturity shown by the newer generations who haven’t had anything hard to deal with decreases their level of maturity.

Based on the OPs statements on here, they are an Autistic 16 year old. So you’d trust them driving a car, carrying a weapon, voting, etc….

Thats the Real World, not the Feelz you want it to be. It can be Evil, Deadly, and unfriendly, as evidenced by events. But you seem to think that it’s all roses and rainbows, as long as we Koom bye yah.

Don’t know where you’ve been, doubt its ever been in a High Threat Zone, Third World country with zero medicine, but you might serve the youth better if you teach them reality, not fantasy.

Im sure you’ll pout and try and delete this and ban me, but that would show how intolerant of reality you are.

I’m actually quite rested, take vacations each year, and am not angry at all. Why is a criticism always “anger”? Feelz right?
Click to expand...
I'm not an admin here, and even if I was - I wouldn't delete your posts or ban you, because I'm quite tolerant of others sharing their opinion, but like you, I call things out like I see them. You post your opinion, but then you vigorously attack any other opinion that doesn't conform to your own and insist that your life experience is the only one that counts.

As for all the other words you've put in my mouth there- reductio ad absurdum and not worth responding.

Final note - I've found that the folks in the room who brag the most about their experience are usually the ones with the least amount of experience. I learned many years ago that there's probably someone else in the room with more experience than me, but even if there wasn't, no one cares to hear me brag about my exploits. I met a navy seal once with combat experience from Vietnam. Very soft spoken, I would have never guessed his past had it not come out through a winding conversation, and there was no bragging - just a "yeah I was a seal". That's the guy I strive to be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top