Firefighter Pre-Apprentice Jasmine Brown: “I Knew I Enjoyed the Classes, But I Wanted to Be Able to See What the Workplace Was Like Firsthand”
Published: January 15, 2025
Like many seniors, Jasmine Brown was trying to figure out what to do after high school. She was drawn to the idea of becoming a firefighter, so when she learned that her town, the City of Albemarle in North Carolina, had launched a firefighter pre-apprenticeship program, she jumped at the chance. “I knew I enjoyed the classes, but I wanted to be able to see what the workplace was like firsthand, and the pre-apprenticeship allowed me to do just that.”
As a pre-apprentice, Jasmine balances high school classes with classes at Stanly Community College’s Fire Academy andis experiencing life as a firefighter with the support of experienced mentors. Those relationships, she says, have been outstanding. “The most surprising thing for me was the bonds you can make in the program. I met a lot of great guys, and the environment is just amazing.”
Nothing is quenching Jasmine’s fire for this profession! And now, she’s thrilled that she was offered a job after graduation and willcontinue her training as a paid firefighter apprentice.For any students considering a pre-apprenticeship, Jasmine says it can definitely help to figure out your career pathway, and she would offer two pieces of advice: “Go in with open ears and always be motivated.”
Learn more about Stanly CC & City of Albemarle’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program: SCC and City of Albemarle Celebrate Apprenticeship Partnership
Written by Lisa Rosendale of American Institutes for Research in Partnership with ApprenticeshipNC
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