Rebecca's About Face

My name is Rebecca Anstine and I am 43 years old.



I feel like yesterday I was 20.



I have two children, a boy and a girl. I have been waiting patiently for their growing to end, so mine could start again.



I grew up on a farm in North Bend, Or. and I am my fathers daughter. If he could do it, so could I. I was determined to be the Son he never had.

I was a take any dare tomboy with the draw of makeup and designer clothes always in the back of my mind.



So, when I entered later grades in school and then started my career in Nursing, I wanted to be as far away from the farm as I could.



I went from Beckie to Rebecca and wore make-up and high heels everyday!



Now, as life keeps circling back, I have found myself wanting to become a Paramedic.

In order to get in the program at COCC, you need to be associated with a Fire Dept.



I filled out the volunteer paperwork for Crook County Fire and Rescue. At the time I was under the impression that I would just be shining the fire trucks!

I was very wrong, you need to initially get your Firefighter 1. That is done through several classes of 3-4 months worth of Saturdays. The subjects are from search and rescue to ladders,ect.



None of the least are easy or carefree and several include SCBA ( self contained breathing apparatus).

Turnouts and the SCBA add up to a lot of weight!



I am doing things at this stage of my life that I never dreamed of. Least of all being a Firefighter... I was not a little kid with dreams of riding on the fire engine.



Every day that passes that I learn more skills I feel more and more empowered. I was a nervous wreak at first, now I try to just go with the flow and compete with the boys that are more than half my age.