Franklin Revisited Anonymous

My teenage life in Darien, Connecticut has been defined considerably by my involvement as a state certified EMT in Post 53, the only known ambulance service in America staffed and governed entirely by volunteer high school students. Through four years of responding to 9-1-1 calls in my suburban community, I’ve seen medical emergencies ranging from lift-assists for veteran amputees to seizures, cardiac arrests, and just about everything in between. But beyond all I’ve learned about the medical world, the moments that have truly left the most meaningful imprints on my being have been those shared with my fellow “Posties”, young adults whom I’m proud to say are among the most inspiring people I’ve ever met.

Growing up the reticent middle child in a boisterous family like my own, I think it’s interesting to note that I developed an early inclination toward being very attentive to details, especially those concerning the behaviors and traits of other people. These quasi-OCD tendencies of mine bore use for many of the fleeting pursuits that engaged my young interests, but they found little value in the more important realms of my childhood. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school...