By Tim Smith

Many college graduates who have juggled a job with a full class schedule will tell you that riding the rapids in a storm is probably easier to navigate. That challenge didn’t stop two members of the Tipp City Emergency Services department from recently achieving the first steps in their career goals.

Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services provides emergency medical, fire, and hazard services in Tipp City and Monroe Township, serving approximately 18,000 people. The staff responds to all emergencies and includes personnel who are dual-certified by the State of Ohio in Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMTs). Two of these first responders, Maggie Armitage and Rockelle Sebor, have achieved distinction by combining on-the-job experience with their college educations.

Maggie Armitage has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a pre-med focus and a minor in Criminal Justice. She is currently in her second year of a master’s program in Physician Assistant studies at Wright State University, with one more year to go. She has worked for Tipp City Emergency Services for four years.

“I got my EMT certification when I was still an undergrad just to get some hands-on experience while I worked at another fire department,” she said in a recent interview. “I got my paramedic license while I finished my Bachelor’s. Tipp City was hiring, and after meeting the Chief and some other people who work there, I felt it was a better fit.”

She feels that her job has positively impacted her course of study. “The experience has helped me connect with my learning, along with cases that I’ve seen in the field. My ability to assess and examine a patient has been a little better from having more education in school.”

Armitage seems to have met the challenge of balancing work and college. “It takes a lot of time management. A majority of people don’t get into the master’s program I’m in while continuing to work. My job goes hand in hand with what I’m learning, and it puts me in a different situation. I get to think about what I’m learning in school while seeing patients on the job.”

As for her future in the medical field, “I really like the ability to do the work of a PA. I’m not saying that in 30 years I won’t change my mind about going further, but for now I’m happy.”

Rockelle Sebor had a slightly different path toward her chosen career. She is a graduate of Houston High School and the Piqua Career Center. While in high school, she accompanied two mission trips to Honduras, which sparked her interest in wanting to become a nurse. She recently passed her Ohio Nursing certification board and has already accepted a position with Upper Valley Medical Center as an ER Nurse. She has been with Tipp City Emergency Services for two years.

“I would like to stay at the fire department while I work in the emergency room, then pass my certification so I can work as a paramedic,” she said. “I’m currently an EMT, but I’m not in too much of a rush since I have my nursing license. When I started at the fire department, I looked online for job positions that were available and I found an application from all the way back in 2014.”

Sebor discovered that working as an EMT while attending a Nursing program was actually a win/win situation. “I started in health care when I was 17, working in a nursing home, and I did college credit courses while I was in high school, which benefitted my education,” she said. “I applied a lot of knowledge from school to my job, and a lot of job knowledge to my school courses. I would say that one doesn’t outweigh the other, and my EMT work definitely helped my studies as a nurse. It was difficult at times, but my job was very supportive, allowing me to attend school while I was working, which was very helpful. Being part-time also helped.”

She doesn’t plan on seeking greener pastures or altering her career path anytime soon. “I live in Tipp City, which I think is very cool. Between getting my paramedic certification and my RN license, I’ll have the option to become a Careflight Nurse, which is something I really want to do. I also see myself going back to Honduras someday. When I was there, I saw that there was a need for health care not only in the U.S., but outside. I just need to find a Medical Mission, and I have a couple in mind.”