Young firefighter raising funds for national competition

To the Editor:

My name is Myriah Porter. I am a junior at Dirigo High School as well as a student in Firefighter I and 2 class at Foster Tech Center in Farmington.

I've been volunteering with the Peru Fire Department for five years and have been active for three years.

On March 10-11, I competed in a statewide Skills USA competition for firefighting. I placed first in the state, giving me a change to compete nationally on June 20-25 in Kansas City, MO. In order to compete in the Nationals, I need to raise $1,200.

Skills USA is an organization available to Career and Technical Education students across the United States where members compete in their choice of trade. It gives students a chance to learn and apply skills that they will need in the future. Skills USA has taught me already how to be a responsible and involved citizen.

I see Nationals as a chance to represent Maine as well as small, volunteer departments against larger states and fire departments. I would love the opportunity to meet new teenagers from all around the country that are just as dedicated to firefighters as I am.

I would also like to compare firefighting programs and learn more about fire departments across the United States.

I plan to pursue firefighting as a career once I get out of high school. Once I graduate from Fire Science and Paramedicine, I plan on working at a fulltime fire department in Maine.

I've want to be a fulltime firefighter since I was 12 years old. Everything that I am working so hard on now is so I have a better chance of living my dream.

One of the fundraisers we are doing is a Sock Hop Dance at the American Legion in Locke Mills from 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. Dan Richard is the disc jockey. There will be raffles, soda and water on sale, BYOB and door prizes. Cost is $7 per person.

Myriah Porter,

Peru