Thoughts, Adventures, & Daily Life of a Home-Schooled High-Schooler

  I read a verse this morning that made me think of a call last summer, and I've chosen to share the story with you all. *Addresses and names are fictitious in accordance with HIPAA regulations* Dweedle-dweedle, beep beep beep!!! my pager chirped. "Berks Township, 2336 South Market Street, fo r chest pain." The dispatcher stated, adding that my unit was due to respond to the call. I shoved the mop bucket to the side of the hallway and tossed the cleaning supplies into the closet on the way to the truck bay. Half the bathroom was cleaned, but the other half would have to wait until we returned.  Flipping on the lights and siren, I easily merged onto the busy highway. "58 year old male, sudden onset of chest pain, trouble breathing, extensive cardiac history. Oh, and he did take one nitro with no relief." The d ispatcher added. That information added urgency, (and a bit more speed).  Several minutes later,  I was kneeling on the floor beside the sofa whe...

 2 years ago this week, I walked into a testing site to take my National Registry Exam. I was 17 and absolutely terrified. Due to c🦠vid, my class had ended prematurely and I didn’t feel very prepared for the test. That afternoon, I repeatedly checked the website and was shocked but very excited to see I had passed! I started out intending only to run with my local EMS agency as time allowed, but it wasn’t long before I realized I wanted to do it as a full time job.  Just a few short weeks after my 18th birthday, I applied for a job as a transport EMT. I was hired to start the interfacility transport program for DH&L. I knew nothing about IFT, but spent a lot of time talking to different agencies and providers, gathering information as well as tips and tricks.  When a 911 position became available in April, I passed the transport program onto a newer hire and began the 24on/72off schedule that I’m still doing at this present time.  It’s not always fun and glamoro...

 (Most of the following examples are things that I have personally experienced. I am only sharing my perspective and opinion, and will not be offended if anyone chooses to leave the page at anytime)  complacency com·​pla·​cen·​cy | \ kəm-ˈplā-sᵊn(t)-sē Essential Meaning of complacency : a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition   The public was lulled into complacency . The stock market crash rattled/shattered/shook our complacency . [=took away our feeling that everything was fine] ...

Its now time for a few of the thought provoking questions I asked for months ago. . . . Why does it [being asked your relationship status] cause you to react? Is there some deeper feelings/issues on your part? Oh yikes, that one came suddenly! So folks, what is a reaction? noun :  reaction ;  plural noun :  reactions an action performed or a feeling experienced in response to a situation or event. R eactions are often done on impulse, without putting much thought into it or considering what the end  result may be. But anyway, you didn't come here to read definitions from a dictionary. Why does it cause us to react? Does it make us feel the need to defend ourselves? Then if we have to defend ourselves, are we not content, or do we feel our value as a person is lower? "Why is this a question that we as youth/young adults struggle with?" I feel this goes back to how we see value as a single person. Or how others see our value. Facial expressions and tone of v...

Today it is my turn to give my answers and opinion on the questions that I asked everybody else in my survey. Why does being asked our relationship status bother us so much?        Or maybe I should why does it bother me? The answers to the other questions answer this one quite well. Please read on, don't get lost!  Does society base our worth off our relationship status?     I received such an overwhelming response of "absolutely", but I was also very glad to see that many of this type of response was followed up with "but it shouldn't be this way". "Folks, the biggest concern I have about your relationship status, is that of your relationship with Jesus Christ." If you feel happy and fulfilled as a single person, enjoy that stage of life!!! Because (and this is what other people have told me, as I can only view this from the single perspective) if you are not happy single, a physical relationship with another person is not going to be a "fix...

I received some very interesting feedback over the last several weeks and I would like to thank each of you for participating in the survey! Since writing and publishing Part 1 , this subject has been pretty heavy on my mind.  Today I'm just going to share some of the question replies. Part 3 is where I guess I'll dive into the wild unknown and try to explain my thoughts with the proper grammar and punctuation.  The question I asked:           Why did it bother you? Was it because the person asking was just being nosy, or was there a deeper reason you would care to share? Just a few of the answers I received: "It felt like being single wasn't good enough" "Mostly because I kind of wanted a relationship but didn't have one" "I was embarrassed" "It made me feel like there was something wrong with me... like they thought me as a person simply as myself just didn't quite 'cut it'." "Too many people were just being no...

Part 1 of 2 (possibly 3😉, but making no promises) Its highly possible that the first time will come at an extended family reunion. You’re laughing at your cousins jokes and intrigued by the funny stories told by Grandpa.  “A second helping of grandma‘s peach cobbler would go well with another story” you think to yourself, and, politely excusing yourself you head for the dessert table. Joining the jostling line of other family members, you eye the deserts so tastefully arranged before you. Just as you’re dishing a generous portion of peach cobbler, uncle Thomas drop a bomb that has the potential to ruin the rest of your day. Or week. Or month. Or just as long as the question bothers you.       “So Jackie,” he says, helping himself to a serving of ice cream, “any boyfriend in your life that I should know about? Or is it to the point that daddy has to keep the shotgun hidden behind the front door?” he asks with a mischievous grin on his face.  Startled, yo...

Sorry for not posting this sooner! I've had it typed for several weeks and forgot to publish it. Enjoy! Passion Girls Camp was held the 3rd weekend in July. The trip down to Maryland went without anything super exciting happening (thankfully!), and we arrived around 4:15. After unloading our earthly belongings and parking our vehicles, we all checked in, turned over our keys and any time-telling devices, and stowed our luggage in the proper tents. Then it was time for supper, and our first session. There was 3 different speakers for the weekend.           As soon as the session was over, we headed out to start our first initiative. The initiative was called "the floor is lava". We had to get our entire group across a bunch of bandanas without anybody touching the ground, or else you had to start over. Once you stepped off a bandana, it couldn't be used again.         It took us until 4:00 in the mo...

       My last post talked a little bit about one of the different things that you might come in contact with when you work with people. Little did I know what would happen a week later. On the other hand, maybe it was good that I didn't know! **********************************************************************************       It seems that when the people in charge leave, the most bizarre things happen. One of Dad's cousins was getting married on Saturday, and they decided to go to the wedding. Sheri was also off, so Brian and I stayed home (we weren't invited anyway) to help Jamison run the shop.       The drama started about 10:30. Customer Abe* came in and wanted to shoot a bunch of bows. However, we only had one bow set-up at the poundage he was comfortable with. So, Jamison started setting up bows for him to try. As I was running register for another customer, Tom* walked in the door. He wa...