The road became an open opportunity, the sirens sounding as wheels turned along asphalt. Maddi Bellissimo is a senior attending Greater Latrobe High School while also taking on the challenge of being an EMT. While only being eighteen years old and partaking in such a strenuous line of work, Maddi has the challenge of balancing 12-hour shifts and keeping in line with school. The hectic nights balanced with the busy mornings create a “stressful but enjoyable” environment for the senior. With such a great achievement, not many know the work that is put forth to get EMT certified. Between sirens blaring and school bells ringing, it is a race between priorities.
The first step was balancing high school education with working towards getting certified. When working on her education, the experience was “a lot all at once”. Book knowledge combined with “training your adrenaline to be calm in stressful situations” proved to be a lot to juggle.
With passing exams and new information being “thrown at you at a quick pace”, she found solace in sitting down and reading a book daily. Simple activities quickly became where she found herself most grounded and collected.
Bellissimo also found herself enjoying activities such as baking, watching movies, and simply talking with her friends to rebuild her energy and stay centered throughout the storm of stress. The nights became long, sleep becoming rare as she took every moment possible to study the books and prepare for certification exams. Behind the curtain of Greater Latrobe’s production of Footloose, Madelyn found time to spend every second possible with the material.
After a month of waiting, she would come to find out that her months of work had paid off. An early morning call gave her the proud news that she had achieved her goal, passing the NREMT and officially becoming certified.
“It meant a lot to me that others were so happy for my success,” she remarks.
Getting into the line of work, she would become stationed at Arnold Palmer Airport to officially learn the ropes and experience the real deal. This included always being prepared for a quick leave, remembering what she was taught, and When she got her first call regarding a head injury, excitement and nervousness coursed through her veins as she sat in the back of the ambulance on the way to the scene. Even with it being her first call, she launched into action and began her journey into finding her spot among the other EMTs. Her first drive in the ambulance alone was one to remember. As she drove the vehicle, her attention was pulled to the road, cautious of every individual on the road.
“It felt very freeing to be trusted with something so big as driving an ambulance,” Madelyn states after recalling the fond memory.
Now experienced for two months, her days are balanced as she gets into the groove of her schedule. Currently hopping around stations, she bonds with the team and environment that comes along with being transferred from location to location. Jokes have been created, similarities noticed, and laughter shared.
“I’m excited to see what happens in the future with this position and the new stories I’ll be able to tell,” Madelyn says.
Her family and friends continue to be a major support role for her in these long hours as she pivots from locations. She is planning on attending the University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, using her current position as a stepping stone into college life. With a heart full of enthusiasm, her journey is far from over as she explores further into her career.
