Paying it forward

[Epi-do]

I ran into a former coworker today, while getting patches switched on some uniform shirts. When he first started at my former employer, I precepted him, and then worked with him as a partner on occassion. He was a brand new EMT at the time, full of questions which I did my best to answer.

After talking with him for a while, and getting caught up on people we both know, he introduced me to his current partner. When doing so, he told his partner, "This person is the reason I am still here and working as your partner. She taught me how to write a run report, and so much more."

I have always enjoyed precepting new employees or having EMT students ride with me. I like to help them "figure things out", provide suggestions that are (hopefully) helpful, and do whatever I can to assist them in being the best they can be. It is so much fun to see the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, when things suddenly seem to "click" in their heads and make sense. The first department I worked at hosted EMT classes, and quite often I would find out students had signed up to ride out with me. However, this was the first time that I can think of that I have had someone I have tried to help out attribute their success, in part, to the assistance/mentoring I had given them.

It just goes to show, you touch more people than you realize in more ways than you know.

 

[berkeman]

Good stuff, Epi-do. A good Mentor is so important.

 

[BossyCow]

The skinny little kid who wanted reassurance from me that she could indeed volunteer with our local FD/Rescue squad graduated first in her EMT-P class last June.

I know the feeling Epi... it makes me all warm and toasty inside. lol.. reminds me of an old Charlie Brown poster.. "Doing a good job is like pissing yourself in a blue suit. Nobody may notice, but you get a nice warm feeling"

 

[artman17847]

Its a good feeling isn't it? I had a similar exp recently with a 16 yo jr. I mentored. He became an EMT but was always hesitant to go to medic school even though he had the smarts to make it. Well we eventually went our seperate ways and after nearly 20 yrs had past he found me. I come to find out that indeed he went to medic school and he made it to his lifetime goal of becoming a flight medic. He said I taught him so much and was an inspiration to him. He said "do you remember that old medic patch you gave me" I was like no but he said that he kept it all this time. I gave him one of my old patches for some motivation. Epi do you are correct somtimes we don't realize the impact we can have on others.