From bartender to EMT, Caleb made the jump to EMS with the EMSA Advantage program. Find out why he made the decision, how he rose to the challenge of the program, and what he learned about himself in the process.
Caleb, what brought you to EMSA Advantage?
What initially brought me to EMSA Advantage was EMS in general. I had been in such close proximity with EMS in the industry I was in before, which was bartending and events. So I was in close proximity with EMSA, and I fell in love.
So what made you apply to the program?
I wanted a program that would challenge me and was going to keep me closer to the Midwest, so this was a likely candidate.
And after going through our interviewing process and meeting the people that worked here, those were a few of the key elements that I needed for a decision.
What do you think about EMSA Advantage being no cost and that you are guaranteed a job at EMSA if you successfully complete the program?
That is a reassurance for me, and I think in a lot of ways it also puts you in a position to uphold a higher standard. You are being given this and you have more to fight for.
What has been the most rewarding part of the program for you?
The most rewarding part of the program is knowing that I was right all along [to make this change]. The connection with patients and the instructors of being so supportive, it’s been a large lump sum of trusting your gut.
So what is EMSA Advantage in your own words?
In my own words, not to sound cliche, but to discover something of yourself. Because it’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
What did you discover about yourself?
That I could go farther with my studying and dedicating myself to a program and seeing it through.
We talk a lot about “to whom much is given, much is expected.” But this isn’t a cakewalk. So what makes it challenging, and what makes those challenges worthwhile in the end?
The challenges, they do discuss in the initial interview. The process is expedited. It is not a long program. You’re here for nine weeks and those nine weeks can, some days, feel grueling.
That being said, when you do pass it, and you do realize that when you put in that work and you see through what you’ve studied, that is the reward in itself. You pushed yourself to what you thought you may not have been able to do before.
Tell us about your classmates. Have you developed close relationships with them? When you go back to that classroom, do you see friends? Coworkers?
We laugh about it all the time, that the first day of our class, our instructor said, “You’re going to get to know your classmates really well.” And we have.
We’ve become like a close family and we are laughing nonstop. It is a group of misfits that got together and realized that we all love the same thing and we all want to support each other and to achieve the goal.
We talk a lot about the fast pace and that it’s grueling, but in the same sense, that means that you’re able to kind of fulfill that dream. Are you looking forward to being out in the field?
Most definitely. I’m looking forward to being out in the field and getting just a continuation of education.
Like I know that this is just the beginning. This is not nine weeks and then I’ve learned everything. This is just a continuous education and being on the streets and being with patients.
What do you like about EMSA as a company?
A lot. But I think most I would say is that they’re direct. They don’t beat around a bush. They’re going to let you know that this is what it’s going to be and they were accurate on what they described that this program was going to be. And I enjoy that a lot.
What do you see for yourself in your future? Do you want to stay an EMT? Are you curious about paramedic school down the road?
I would like to hone in on EMT as of right now. But down the road I would like to do some form of volunteering overseas and to do that, I think that would be indicative of a paramedic and going to school for that. So it’ll be along those lines.
What do you like about living in Tulsa?
The uniqueness of Tulsa I think is what has held on. It’s got a very unique charm to it.
What would you say to somebody on the fence about the program, who’s not sure if they should hit the apply button or reach out to a recruiter?
Click the apply button. Go on your ride along. If you enjoy your ride along and you enjoy that element of not knowing what call you’re going to get next until that dispatcher lets you know, that excitement—if that’s not it, then this might not be for you. But I would say just go ahead and apply ’cause you don’t know.
Anything that I didn’t ask that you think is important?
Like we’ve talked about, it is an expedited program. If you do decide to do this, dedicate more than that bare minimum after you leave the classroom, if you want this.
If you don’t want this, then that’s fine. But you’ve just signed up for something you didn’t want.
If you do want this, you’re going to have to go that extra mile.