How many of us wondered when we were slugging our way through high school what it might be like to become a mechanic, or a nurse, or a firefighter?
Often it could be difficult to imagine what would be involved in a particular career, and without the advantage of any hands on experience, perceptions of one job or another would often be drawn from television, or movies, or a vague knowledge of what our parents or other adult figures in our lives did for a living.
These days students are very fortunate to have opportunities though high school co-operative education programs to jump in with both feet and get a taste of what a given career choice would be like.
For Georgian Bay Secondary School student Taylor Wilkie, the program has allowed him to follow a dream.
“Since I was a child I always wanted to be a firefighter or a police officer,” Wilkie told The Independent during an interview at the new Meaford Fire Hall.For two years Wilkie has been allowed to experience the life of a firefighter through his participation in the GBSS Co-op program.
According to the school website, cooperative education is a planned learning experience in the community that complements and enhances the Ontario Curriculum and provides students with an opportunity to learn and to apply their skills and knowledge in practical situations.
“It is a great program for kids to get insight into jobs that might be ahead of them,” offers Wilkie who is 18 years old, and has enjoyed his time working with the Meaford Fire Department so much that he plans on making a career out of it.
Taylor graduated from GBSS last year, and went back to the school for a semester to take some additional courses, and to participate in the co-op program for his second time.
During his time at the fire hall, Wilkie has impressed his superiors enough that he is being hired on to the department, and in January will officially be a firefighter.
As Jeff Smith, Co-operative education teacher at GBSS explained, Wilkie was very busy learning many aspects of firefighting while in the co-op program.
“He was given a pager and was able to participate in fire calls (not allowed in the hot zone), and the day to day operations at the hall,” said Smith, “Taylor assisted with fire prevention visits, attending fire fighter training sessions and completed level 1 of the formal fire fighter curriculum.”
When the department was in a position to hire new recruits Wilkie had the experience and had already demonstrated the desire.
“This is an example of how the co-op program gives students an experiential advantage when it comes to career opportunities or college admissions,” advised Smith.
Meaford Fire Chief Steve Nickels is supportive of the goals of co-operative education.
"We've had a tremendous group of students work with us through co-op,” Nickels told The Independent during a phone interview, “Taylor has a commitment, a drive and a work ethic, and he is willing to tackle anything. He is one of those kids that I have faith will do well.”
The firefighting environment wasn't completely foreign to Wilkie before entering the co-op program. His father Roland has been a firefighter for 34 years, and the younger Wilkie is proud to be following in his footsteps.
“My parents are excited that I've had this opportunity,” said Wilkie.
Away from the fire hall Wilkie is an active young man who likes to mountain bike, kayak, and golf. In the winter months he works as a snowboard instructor at Blue Mountain.
His dream though, is to make a career out of firefighting.
“I really enjoy the training aspect of it,” says Wilkie who described the challenges involved in learning to be a firefighter.
One of the more challenging skills he has had to learn involves preparing his gear to fight a fire.
“You have 65 seconds to get your air pack on, get it adjusted, and be ready to go,” he informs. “It is an entirely new experience, completely out of the ordinary from every day life.”
Taylor Wilkie will graduate from the black student firefighter helmet to the standard yellow one when he is officially hired on in the new year. Given his passion for the career, there just might be a white Chief's helmet in his future.
