Magnolia Student Center students Seth Blynn and Jabez Macias are part of the Fire Explorers program, reported Beverly Voechting, principal. Once they finish school, both hope to go on to careers in the fire department.
Seth Blynn, 16, lives in Jurupa Valley and has been part of the Fire Explorers program for a year. He is in 11th grade. He has been attending Magnolia since 7th grade; he chose the school because “it is an independent school and I get to set my own pace of work.”
Seth plans to attend Crafton Hills College for his EMT associates degree, and then transfer to a Cal State school to earn a bachelor’s degree in paramedic and fire science. His goal is to be a paramedic firefighter. Being part of the program has allowed him the opportunity to speak to many professionals in the industry and learn what they do.
His other interests include outdoor activities such as canoeing, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
Jabez Macias, 15, lives in Riverside. He is in the 11th grade, and has been attending Springs since 8th grade. He chose the school, he said, because “they offer all the help and opportunities a student needs in order to be successful in school.”
After finishing high school, he, too, plans to attend EMT school and pursue a career in the fire department. The Fire Explorer program, he said, gives him the opportunity “to explore the fire service by learning how to carry out basic everyday tasks. I also get the opportunity to train and ride out with real firefighters in Riverside stations to get hands-on experience in real-life situations.”
Outside of school, he enjoys playing the drums and running track.
