The Right Career Choice Can Make all the Difference

By Vernon Hiller | Our self identity is so often tied to the career we choose. That is why choosing the right career can be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

By: Vernon Hiller for Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions

Photo by Connor Betts on Unsplash

When you think about how you would like others to see you, what image comes to mind? How do you see yourself? So much of what we come to see as our self identity is often tied to the career we choose. While we may explore many different pursuits in an effort to find something that will support who we want to become. At the end of the day many find their occupation becomes the defining component of how they see themself. That is why choosing the right career can be one of the most important decisions you will ever make, not just for building your identity, but finding fulfillment

As I write this, I have 2 shifts left in a career that spans 36 years with the same employer. Wednesday January 31st, 2024 marks my last day as a firefighter. It has been an extraordinarily rewarding, enjoyable and insightful experience. It began when I realized the path I was on would never produce the kind of life I wanted, or challenge me in areas I was ready to explore. Firefighting exhibited a camaraderie that I hadn’t witnessed in any of my previous roles. The profession also aligned with my desire to help others, appealed to my athleticism, aroused my curious nature and would encourage me to grow. It just checked the boxes.

The shared sense of compassion that weaves its way through firefighters has also always intrigued me. It never ceased to amaze me how those individuals who were sometimes the most boisterous, edgy, or even cynical around the station could be the first at a call to comfort a grieving wife, or offer a gentle hand to a scared child. Somewhere at the core of who we are runs that common thread of empathy, and a gentle nature that doesn’t always reveal itself until placed into the middle of a traumatic event. Whether it be a house fire, heart attack, automobile or industrial accident, firefighters are dispatched to what is often the most agonizing incident a person may have ever experienced. We provide the requisite tools and expertise and then we leave. We are strangers, humbly allowed a tiny peak into the deepest most personal event of that person’s life, and all that is asked from us in return is our help.

Being a firefighter is a tremendous honour, and although I have never taken it lightly, I did take it in stride. It was my experience that we seldom discussed the impact of our actions. We tended to have multiple interests and an affinity for thinking and finding solutions outside the box. Many of us came from the trades and shared a common curiosity around what made things tick. Today we also come from many different cultures and backgrounds, and while the nature of the job and shift work can sometimes take its toll, when called on for support we are often the first to lend a hand.

Fire stations can be like second homes with crews becoming like families. This means spending a lot of time together around dinners, responding to calls, and sharing close quarters. We quickly learn one another’s idiosyncrasies, political views, who the big eaters and snorers are, and a whole lot more about one another’s personal lives. This is important, because this kind of rapport builds trust, which is essential in situations where that may become our strongest asset.

The countless incidents I’ve witnessed involving human suffering and personal loss, have painted a reality of life and death that stand in stark contrast to what most people experience and take for granted in their daily lives. Such experiences have helped keep me grounded, strengthened my empathy and given me a much stronger appreciation for how similar we all are, and the importance of making the best of our precious moments on this earth.

For years I worked in a part of the city that contained people at both ends of the financial spectrum. It was not uncommon to respond to incidents in homes full of antiquities and artwork where the wealthy owner who seemingly had it all, was in bed suffering from a medical emergency. Hours later, we would respond to an identical call at a dishevelled apartment in a less affluent area that was sparsely decorated and without any of the luxuries seen previously. What always struck me was how similar both patients looked in their vulnerable state. At that moment, while both were in pain and in need of immediate care, their material possessions mattered little relative to their health and well-being. When health and empathetic care become paramount, ones status, possessions, and wealth tend to give way to a shared common humanity.

Although I have always been aware of the risks associated with fires, I have never really understood why I wasn’t fearful of them. I seldom gave running into a fire a second thought. Although some might question that fearlessness, I readily admit to sharing many of the same fears and insecurities that everyone has. Things like pushing myself into unfamiliar areas, or fighting self-doubt or fear about my abilities all haunted me at one time or another. It’s important to be aware of these because such insecurities can often steer us away from making the right choice when choosing our career.

I was extremely fortunate to have found firefighting, but not unlike many young people today, it was a slow process of discovery. For a number of years after high school, and then again after college I was directionless, but once I broadened my scope and began to consider previously unexamined professions, firefighting kept presenting itself. As my curiosity grew, I began to notice that it checked off many of the boxes I was looking for. It aligned with my values, gave me a purpose, and as I started to visualize myself in that role, my passion for it grew.

Firefighting made all the difference. It stretched me into countless new areas. There were always those who challenged me to expand my horizons, try new things, and believe in myself. Whether it was developing the confidence to fix things myself, buy investment properties, or go back to school to get a degree, someone's example always gave me strength. Firefighting actually pulled me out of the box I had placed myself in and challenged me to reach beyond. That is what the right career should do. Contrary to confining or stunting you, it should encourage you to stretch your wings and explore everything life has to offer. I have firefighting and those I worked with to thank for that, and will be forever grateful for what it all gave me.

About the author: Vernon Hiller is a decorated District Chief of Operations with the Toronto Fire Services and has served the city for over 36 years. He is a Board member with LEADR - a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to providing literacy tutoring for adults in Durham Region. - Having struggled with ADHD as a child, Vernon is passionate about helping others discover the potential that hides within them.