BRING THE HEAT

BY ALENA GILLESPIE WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Witnessing a house fire during a ride-along with KCK Station 1 Strawberry Hill fire department, senior John Cosse encountered the life of a firefighter. During winter break of his junior year, Cosse participated in this experience from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. led by firefighter Chris Werner, junior Dominic Werner’s dad.

“It seems like a very close brotherhood relationship with everyone in your crew,” Cosse said.

Cosse’s interest in firefighting started his freshman year after his mom mentioned the idea to him. After researching this occupation, he became certain of this career path during his sophomore year.

“I found out that I had a lot of interest in it,” Cosse said. “Firefighting has been something that I have wanted to do.”

Following graduation, Cosse plans to complete the fire science program at Johnson County Community College.

“You need to stay in shape,” Cosse said. “You just take your classes in college, and you have to be pretty fit for it.”

According to Cosse, he believes the challenge of firefighting will be arriving at a scene and seeing distraught families.

“It is hard to watch people’s emotions brought down,” Cosse said. “Tragedy through other families is hard in itself.”

Cosse will be the first firefighter in his family and looks forward to the family-like bond that he will form with other crew members.

“I just want to do whatever I can to complete a job,” Cosse said. “I want to protect people, be there and serve others.”

“This program has helped me get introduced to different HBCUs and has helped a lot with the admissions process for college,” Cheadle said. “This program has also helped me to become more social and learn how to work with people, and in the process I even met my roommate.”

The cotillion program also supports its members by rewarding them with a scholarship based on the amount of work they have completed through service, essays and other skills that are geared toward college readiness. With the completion of the program and with walking across the stage at graduation closely approaching, Cheadle said she has been instilled with confidence regarding her future and is better prepared for a new beginning.

“I feel that I now have the tools and knowledge needed for a successful first year of college,” Cheadle said. “Having the opportunity to meet others who are going down the same path as myself has already provided me with a community of others like myself as we support one another through our journey.”