​​​​GREECE, N.Y. — ​An upstate New York school district is finding success with a program that allows students to get a jump on their careers and learn life skills at the same time.

It's part of the Responding to Emergencies Career Pathway program, a hands-on learning course at Greece Odyssey Academy that allows students to train with actual first responders in the fields of firefighting, emergency medical services, and law enforcement.

What You Need To Know

  • Greece High School students train to become first responders

  • Responding to Emergencies Career Pathway program is a hands-on learning course at Greece Odyssey Academy that allows students to train with actual first responders in the fields of firefighting, emergency medical services, and law enforcement

  • The Greece Central School District works with Monroe Community College and several emergency services agencies in the community to make the program successful

​Tavia Smith is 16-years-old and in 11th grade. She plans to go to college to become a nurse and this instruction will have her well on her way.

“I want to go into nursing when I’m older, but I want to start off with EMT so I can get a feel for the career I want to go in. And it’s just a great start, it gives you great experience and overall it looks really good," she said.

During their junior and senior years, the students in the program will gain six credits from Monroe Community College and receive certificates in New York State Firefighting, EMT training, and CPR. They will also have Hazmat, police, and CSI training.

"I think that this program is such a great opportunity, even if you don’t necessarily want to go into firefighting [or become] any kind of first responder - it teaches you such valuable life skills. And you never know when you might be in a situation of an emergency you have those skills as a civilian to possibly help a person in need," said Smith.

"Our goal is to kind of start a program that could be mirrored in the state," said Responding to Emergencies instructor Chris Mros, a teacher at the school and veteran firefighter. "I’m finding a lot of these kids need these hands-on courses to be successful and it gives them an opportunity to see that yeah I really enjoy this, this is something that I can do."

Organizers and students agree - the program is a confidence and self-esteem booster.

"They gain that confidence over the course of the year doing the hands-on stuff and working together and working with firefighters, working with EMTs," said Mros.

“I think one of the biggest things we focus on is communication and teamwork. And we’ve learned a lot on how to talk with other people, work with our teammates and kind of bring our skills altogether,” said Smith. “It’s really awesome, I love it so much.”