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Chancellor grad Ryan Glasshoff volunteered 2,800 hours at Company 5 as a high school junior and senior. |
Spotsylvania County students receive a special seal on their diplomas if they complete 144 hours of community service during their high school careers. Recent Chancellor High graduate Ryan Glasshoff has such a seal--for 2,800 hours.
Ryan might deserve 20 special seals, but he's not complaining. He spent those community service hours doing what he loves: working for the fire department.
A large portion of his free time as a junior and senior was spent at Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue's Company 5 station on Plank Road.
Ryan's parents divorced when he was 5, and his older sister's boyfriend, Steve Cooper, was a Chancellor firefighter. When the family turmoil was swirling, he found comfort in trips to the firehouse. It's still his home away from home.
"I fell in love," he said. "All I could ask is when we would go back to the firehouse."
As he got older, Ryan gained respect for Cooper--now his brother-in-law and a career firefighter for Spotsylvania.
"Watching him lead other people is what inspired me to volunteer, to become a firefighter," Ryan said.
At 16, Ryan became eligible to volunteer as a junior firefighter. He didn't waste any time, beginning a rigorous schedule that he stuck with until graduation, spending as much time at the station as he was allowed.
On a typical school day, Ryan woke up, got to school on time and stayed until about 2 p.m. After finishing his homework and grabbing a quick snack, he headed to the firehouse to work from 6 to 10 p.m.
On weekends, Ryan got to the station at 8 in the morning on Saturday and left Sunday night at 10.
"I loved it," he said. "It was a new adventure every day. It still is."
Ryan managed to maintain As and Bs as he logged volunteer hours. His fellow firefighters encouraged him, making sure he kept school as his top priority.
Working as a firefighter in high school was a positive experience for Ryan. He was able to relate his assignments to real-world experience, and he enjoyed the added respect his position gave him. On the other hand, getting schoolwork done was a challenge.
"It was like having a new toy to play with," he said. "I had to set priorities."
His firefighting also benefited. Ryan was named the 2007 Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue Rookie of the Year.
Ryan turns 18 at the end of the month, at which point he can put in applications to become a full-time firefighter. He's picturing a career in a more urban area--Northern Virginia or Washington--and plans to continue his professional education in college.
Thad Williams is Ryan's captain at the station. He has been impressed by Ryan's dedication.
"He's excelled here," Williams said. "With the classes he's taken, he can pursue a career as a firefighter. He just graduated, and he's already qualified to work for most departments."
Ryan will keep putting in the hard work required to make firefighting a career. As long as he can step through the station door, he's happy.
"You could be having the worst day, and you come into the firehouse and the guys start giving you a hard time. It'll turn your day around."
To reach Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
