When students are faced with the end of their high school careers and the need to define what they will be doing in the real world, many struggle to find a career they want to be their passion for life. Unlike many of his peers, senior CK Catilus has a fixed goal in mind and is prepared to set those aspirations in motion.

Although some aspects of the future are still very much uncertain for Catilus, he is taking steps to move up the career ladder and grow closer towards his goal of becoming a firefighter.

“I shoot for the top and want to be a chief, because why not just try your hardest and go the farthest you can,” Catilus said. “I think I’ll be able to save a lot of lives and do great things with that and that’s mainly why I wanted to do this job.”

Senior Joseph Cirrincione, one of Catilus’ friends, saw how the goal of becoming a firefighter has taken so much of Catilus’ interest since the start of high school. He finds the career choice befitting his friend’s character.

“I know you have to be very brave and you have to have a good heart, and want to help people [to be a firefighter], and I think CK embodies those things,” Cirrincione said.

As of this past year, Catilus enrolled in the Regional Occupational Program, ROP. This is a program focused on providing students with the skills they need in a specific career path in order to lead them to success and inspire them to achieve their goals. ROP gives students the chance to enroll in classes based on specific fields and based on areas of specialization that are not available to them in high schools.

“I’m in ROP Fire Science right now and what that is [it prepares] us for college courses in the future,” Catilus said. “We do book work and we do stuff on the drill ground with hoses and fire hydrants.”

Catilus believes his decision in choosing this path was the product of a prior experience.

“I started lifeguarding a couple years ago, so that interested me into something in medical like EMT or fire fighting,” Catilus said. “I always just thought it was inspiring how they can save lives and have such a big effect on this world.”

According to Catilus, his classroom captain at station 6 inspired him to stay dedicated and set on his goals. He considers the opportunity to be acquainted with him an honor.

“Captain Adams is my teacher and he’s just a great guy,” Catilus said. “He made me want to be a firefighter a lot more because he told me a lot about it – he made it seem like a great job.”

Catilus plans to fulfil his required classes in his choice of college.

“I think I’ll go to a four-year or Sierra and do the firefighting one & two [courses] there. And then if I went there I would just go to a four year after – I haven’t decided yet because you can go either way,” Catilus said. “If I wanted to go to the four-year first I could go back and do the firefighting.”

Although there are life-threatening risks to becoming a firefighter, Catilus is undaunted and confident in the skills he will acquire and his collaboration with his future colleagues.

“I’m most excited about being able to help the community out in a bigger way,” Catilus said. “And being able to help people, no matter if it’s saving lives, saving someone’s pet, or putting out a fire.”