As I look back upon my four years at Tufts, I realize that mycollege experience was anything but typical. Of course, I attendedmy fair share of parties on Professor's Row, ran in multiple NakedQuad Runs, and spent countless late nights staring at thebrightness of my computer screen. Most of the days and nights inbetween, however, I could be spotted around campus wearing a whitepolo shirt, khakis, and a Motorola radio attached to my belt. Iprobably drove the TEMS truck more than my own car. As an EMT withTEMS (Tufts Emergency Medical Services) for four years, I havesacrificed countless hours of sleep, studying, and my own socialplans to help my peers in times of emergency.
Along the way, many people have asked me how I could have donethis. I'm not going to lie - sometimes it was really hard. It wasfrustrating to get pulled out of class for the third time thatsemester, only to show up on scene to something that was far froman emergency. There were times at 4 am that I just wanted to beable to hit the snooze button on those four words waking me from mysleep: "Tufts Police to TEMS." Those inevitably would be the sametimes when I would wipe the sleep out of my eyes, drive acrosscampus, and stand in the rain while a belligerent drunk vomited allover my shoes.
EMTS and paramedics are expected to be calm, collected, andemotionally strong - we're supposed to play the "hero." Many couldbe described as cocky, but that's only because you have to be tosurvive in the business. My friends say that there are two Amys -the normal Amy and "Public Safety Amy." They're a little afraid ofthe latter. It's not intentional but there are times when it isnecessary to push on in the job. Sometimes the façade canonly go so far. There are images that stick in your head for years,there are times when you want to break down crying in the middle ofa street, and there are moments when you become so overcome withfrustration that you lose your compassion. These are the lows.
But there are a lot of highs that make it fun - the lights andsirens, the interactions with a variety of different people, andthe spontaneity of any situation. What gets you through, however,are the times when you know that you've truly made a difference insomeone's life. Sometimes it means saving one, but most times itjust means that you've helped them in a way that no one else couldhave. There's nothing like the feeling of walking into a chaoticsituation, knowing everyone is relying on you, and somehow addingorder to the disorder. It's the adrenalin rush and the challenge ofa call that makes it exciting, but it's the "thank yous" that makesit worth it. These are two words that aren't heard very often inthe business, but when they are, they make the thousands of toughtimes disappear.
The lows and highs of the job create an environment that forcesstrong relationships between EMT partners and other public safetypersonnel. I have made so many great friends through TEMS andshared experiences that I will never forget. These are some of themost dedicated, courageous, and honorable people that I have evermet. Some of my greatest memories from my college years are justdriving around campus for hours in the TEMS truck, talking aboutnothing and everything at the same time.
Because Tufts Police comes with us on every call, TEMS membersget to know the TUPD officers well. When we walk into a room tohelp our patient, TUPD has our back. Contrary to many peoples'beliefs, they don't come looking to get people in trouble. They arethere for us - for the times when things get out of control - toblock the drunken punches, to keep the scene safe and manageable,or to lend a helping hand if there are too many medical things todo at one time. They are irreplaceable. These men and women spendday and night on this campus working to protect every member ofthis community. These officers have tremendous personal strength,integrity, and courage. I don't think many people walk away fromtheir college career knowing that they have made great friendswithin the university's police department, but I guess my yearswere just that atypical. I learned more from the people that I metin TEMS and TUPD than I have in all of my classes. It was a lot ofsacrifice, but I don't regret a minute of it.
Next time you open the door of your party to see the blue lightsflashing and officers standing before you, treat them with therespect that they deserve. After all, they are only doing theirjob. As for TEMS, we do this job for free. We sacrifice long hoursto help our peers. If I had a dollar for every hour I spent onTEMS, I'd be a rich woman by now. But it's not about the money. Ifit were, I would be spending more time at the outside ambulancethat I work for and less time in the TEMS truck.
It's about the experience of peers helping peers in a way thatis unimaginable. As I contemplate graduating from Tufts in May, Iam saddened that I have to leave behind an organization that I havegrown to love so much. I can only hope that TEMS will grow andflourish in the future and continue to affect students in the waysthat it has for the past 18 years. To all of my friends at TEMS andTUPD: thank you for making my college experience so wonderful.
Amy Stone is a senior majoring in clinicalpsychology.
