“You can’t base your
life on other people’s
expectations.”
~ Stevie Wonder

As a child, I dreamed of following in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and pursuing a career as a firefighter in San Francisco. When we would visit my Dad at the firehouse, he would allow my siblings and me to climb on the apparatus, as long as we didn’t ring the bell or step on the button on the floor in the cab that activated the siren. My favorite place to sit was in the tiller driver’s seat at the rear of the truck.

In 1972, after graduating from high school, I moved to San José and enrolled in the fire science program at San José City College. On most school days, I would eat lunch in the Student Union building on campus. I got to know a few other students and we’d hang out socializing and enjoying the music playing on the juke box before heading off to our next class.  

Fast-forward to yesterday — March 19, 2024. I was walking in downtown Campbell when a familiar song, one I had not heard in many years, was playing through the outside speakers at Sushi Confidential. It was Stevie Wonder singing You Are the Sunshine of My Life. In my mind, I was immediately transported back to the Student Union building at San José City College. The song was first released in late October 1972. It was one of the most popular songs selected on the juke box in the student dining area that year. And just as quickly as I recalled that specific time in my life 50+ years ago, I found myself fully-aware of where I was at the moment. I was taken aback by the stark contrast between these two vivid images of myself.

The 18-year-old me lacked confidence, most notably in the academic arena, but I was young, strong, athletic, and totally content with the prospect of a career in firefighting. I had no idea that my life would take a very different trajectory. Today I am 69-years old and retired, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Santa Clara University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of San Francisco. The courses I took prepared me for a 43-year career in teaching. I’ve even written and published five books, with one more due to be published next month. My 18-year-old self could never have imagined such a scenario.

At my Dad’s insistence, I took the written test for the San Francisco Fire Department in 1976, followed by the physical agility test in 1977. In 1978, I was offered a firefighting job, but I was fairly certain by that point that I had a calling to teach. I submitted a waiver form, which allowed me to defer accepting the job to a later date. Eventually, Dad realized that I had no intention of taking the firefighting job. He was beyond disappointed. He even let me know that he thought I was making a big mistake financially, as the starting salary in the SFFD was significantly more than I would make as a teacher. He was right, of course, but I reminded him of a pearl of wisdom I’d received several years earlier when I was told, “Don’t worry about the money. Follow your heart.” He recognized immediately that I had learned this lesson from him.

Hearing Stevie Wonder’s song yesterday afternoon was a gift, as it enabled me to reflect on how far I’d come in the past fifty years. I’m grateful that I didn’t base my life on the expectations of others. I’m also tremendously grateful for those who saw in me what I didn’t see in myself, and provided opportunities for me to pursue a career in teaching. 

As I approach my 70th birthday, I am still captivated at the sight of fire apparatus, red lights flashing and siren blaring, rolling down the street responding to a call. I still feel a strong bond with firefighters, but I have no regrets. I am simply grateful for the career path I took, and also for those who put their lives on the line every day as firefighters.