Is he on fire, or is he putting them out? Senior Benjamin Gonzalez recently joined the Redondo Beach Fire Explorer program, a career pathway for young adults interested in firefighting. The program teaches a variety of skills, such as leadership techniques, firefighting skills, proper use of firefighting tools and equipment.
“When I was a child I always took an interest in firefighting, this year my mom found this program, and I was eager to start. Starting out I quickly noticed the instructors would get on [participants of the program] for certain things, but then I realized it’s because they’re genuinely pushing you to be better,” Gonzalez said.
His mother, Olga Rodriguez, had a difficult time finding a quality program for her son. Due to COVID, most of them shut down, leaving options scarce. She originally attempted to enroll him in a program with the Los Angeles Fire Department, but the wait list was extremely long. Thankfully, she then found a program in Redondo Beach that accepted Gonzalez.
“I felt so proud that he’d be able to gain this experience. When we moved to Redondo Beach, we learned that the Redondo fire stations held open houses, so his father and I always took him to them when he was growing up. We wanted to do anything we could to show our support for him,” Rodriguez said.
Gonzalez also had the support of his good friend, senior Sebastian Moreno, whom he met when they were both in fourth grade. Moreno is “proud” of his friend and notes Gonzalez’s excitement towards the program.
“Ben is a big dreamer. Our friends often make jokes, calling him delusional. But honestly, the size of his goals and his drive to achieve them is what’s going to get him places. If he wants that ‘place’ to be firefighting, then I know he’ll get there. But I’ll be there waiting on the other side once he’s done,” Moreno said.
Both Gonzalez and his mother noted that his passion and early interest in firefighting derive from his personal need to help others and satisfaction in a job well-done.
“I was really excited because one of the days, I got to go on a ride with actual firefighters. There was a call from a woman who was having a medical emergency, and I watched everybody do their job to help her. I felt more immersed in the career after that, envisioning myself being able to help people like her made me feel good,” Gonzalez said.
The program is an opportunity for young adults to experience the tasks of firefighting before attending proper schooling to become one, and it allows participants to get a feel for the field while building a resume. Moreno felt that aspects of Gonzalez’s personality may also contribute to his potential success as a firefighter.
“One thing about [Benjamin] is he’s determined. If someone is stuck in a building, he’s getting them out. Mentally, he’s able to push through just about anything,” Moreno said.
Gonzalez stresses the importance of acknowledging that “your future depends on you” and not to slacking off while trying to achieve goals. He is especially grateful for the opportunities that will arise due to his participation in the program, and his parents are overjoyed to be able to provide him this pathway.
“I didn’t have much support growing up, so I did everything I could to provide it for my son. I try to provide him with opportunity and experience for every dream he has because I know it makes a huge difference for a kid,” Rodriquez said. “[Benjamin] is very kind, he has a good heart, and I see him become more outgoing through the help of his friends, teachers and the program. It makes me feel very proud to see him grow and be able to chase these dreams.”
Through the support of those around him, Gonzalez has formed a strong mentality that pushes him to succeed, and his friends and family couldn’t be “more proud” of him.
“In middle school I found myself slacking off, but as I matured, I realized that [as a person] you have to find your own ways of getting things done. It’s important to find balance in your workload while pushing yourself past your limits,” Gonzalez said.
