Essay winner shows love for her firefighter dad
The Paul Davis Restoration of Aurora sponsored an essay contest for children of firefighters. The kids were to write a 500-word essay on “What it means to have a parent or guardian as a firefighter.”
The winning entry was from Holly Louise Kuhn, 14, of Sugar Grove, whose father, Phil, is a St. Charles fireman. The award — and its $500 scholarship — was announced Tuesday afternoon at Fire Station No. 2 in St. Charles. Here is the winning essay:
By Holly Louise Kuhn
To have a dad as a firefighter means a lot of different things to me. I never really thought how much of an honor it is to have a dad as a fireman. I could have never imagined how dangerous being a firefighter is either. But my experiences as being a daughter of a firefighter have opened my mind up to all those thoughts.
A couple of years ago my mom got sick and had to have several surgeries, which really took a toll on our family. But with how close the firefighters are at my dad#146;s fire station, they really helped out. The other firefighters would work my dad#146;s shifts, bring food or groceries over and even take my siblings and me for the day while my dad went to visit my mom in the hospital. So I guess what this really means is, to a firefighter as a dad, he has a group of people who really want to help each other out as much as they possibly can.
To have a dad as a firefighter also means that there are other people that get to live because of firefighters, like my dad. There are fatal fires on a daily basis. I actually looked up how many people died in fire related incidents, and found that about 500 people a year, nationally, die from fire related accidents alone. Can you imagine how many more people would die if there were no firefighters? That number would just keep growing and growing.
My dad could also be in danger at any moment while on his shift. Even if my dad only works in a small fire station, it is still dangerous. Fires can cause severe burns and there are great heights to deal with, too. The ladders that firefighters need to climb can be unbelievably tall and dangerous. The dangers that firefighters face on a day-to-day basis can be outrageous. I have no idea what I would do if dad would get into an accident while on the job, but I try not to think of that ever happening.
To have a dad as a firefighter means that my dad has job security. Job security is such a big factor these days, because so many people are unemployed. With having job security my dad would have a lesser chance of getting laid off. This is really important to my family, especially since I am going to Rosary High School. My dad also has a second job working as a handyman to help pay for my education. If my dad were to lose his job as a firefighter my family#146;s way of life would be turned upside down. Things could change around our house drastically. Sacrifices would have to be made, one of which would be my dream of going to Rosary then to college. I realize how lucky I am that my dad has a job and the security it brings to my life and my family.
I love my dad and it makes me proud and grateful to say that my dad is a firefighter. Not only my dad, but all firefighters who risk everything on a daily basis for the community and for the life of others. Firefighters may miss birthdays or holidays, but knowing that my life is safer because of it makes the sacrifices worth it.