Sitting around the station, late at night, after running 10 to 12 calls already can cause a man/woman to think. Is it really worth it? We leave our families behind and fulfill our dream of being an EMT/Paramedic. What happens when the long hours and stressful calls take their toll. Some turn their backs on EMS forever. Most, however, move on to another aspect of the field of medicine. This requires returning to school and earning or furthering degrees.

Is it wrong that we want to better our lives and the lives of our family members? I think not, but often we meet resistance from the service we work for. This can come in many forms. Excuses such as staffing, or "Why would you EVER want to leave here." Sometimes only the "favorites" recieve time off required to continue their education.

EMS services all to often consider their employees as possessions and not the commodities that they are. We are hard working professionals that want only to better ourselves. We want to give our families a nice home, our kids a good education, and save a little of ourselves for retirement.

So, the next time your supervisor questions your intentions, ask him one question. "Did you want to be a 'GRUNT' your whole career?" If he answers "YES", then it's apparent that he never had one ounce of ambition.

.....and that's all I have to say about that.

If you have any response to this editorial, please E-mail and mark it care of The Unknown Medic