I started my journey as an Explorer at just 13, turning 14. I didn’t know what I wanted back then. I thought maybe I’d be a teacher, then the military, then maybe a cop. But one day, at Morrow High high school, I saw a table…two firefighters standing there. They were talking about an Explorer program, like a Boy Scout program but for future firefighters. I hesitated but said, “Why not?” while laughing thinking nothing would come of it.
Turns out, I got an interview. Imagine that…..a kid my age, facing an interview. My mom and JROTC helped me prepare, but I was nervous. I sat in front of a lot of chiefs, including the chief of training, who oversaw the Explorers Post 701. I was shaking, but I got through it. Little did I know, it would change my life.
What truly made the difference wasn’t just the program it was the people. All the instructors helped shape me every Saturday!! Chief Elliot, Chief Keyros, Captain Harmsen, Lt Lou, Cpt Rapper, Lt Nicole (Sorry if I missed anyone) but there’s one person who stood out….Chief Ann Hall. When I met her, she was either a sergeant or a lieutenant…I can’t quite recall. But what I do recall is that she was always there. She was a mentor, a guide, and sometimes that voice of truth whether I liked it or not.
I wasn’t the perfect kid. I messed up a lot. But she never gave up on me. She told me the truth, even when it stung, and she helped me see that I mattered. She didn’t just do that for me she did it for so many of us. She poured into us, pushed us, and reminded us that we’re a team. And we had to act like one.
Fast forward to today, and that same person Chief Hall is now Deputy Chief Hall of training. It’s a promotion she earned, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving. She worked with us Saturday after Saturday, guiding teenagers some of us know it alls lol…through competitions, ride alongs, and real life experiences. She could have been doing ANYTHING else but she was dealing with a bunch of kids….She was patient and understanding, no matter who we were or where we came from. She taught us to be a team, to respect each other, and to make a difference one call, one person at a time.
Now at 31, Almost 20 years later…..I admire her more than ever. She always pushed for excellence…not perfection, but the best we could be. She wanted us to make a difference, and she lived that out. To everyone reading this, be thankful for those guiding you. Ask questions, listen, and let someone hold you accountable. It makes all the difference.
So ya listen up!………To Chief Hall….Deputy Chief Ann Hall of Training……you’ve been there for me since day one LITERALLY. You believed in me when I didn’t. And to the Clayton County Fire Department thank you for giving me the overall opportunity. It’s crazy!! The program has grown …it’s now the “Pathway Program”, reaching even more schools in Clayton County! I might even write a book one day about this journey. But today, I just say thank you. Keep making a difference, Chief Hall. You’ve changed lives including mine.
