Jessica Handwerk Is a WHS Senior and also a Emergency Medical Technician

by Emma Lochner for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride

Senior Jessica Handwerk at Walkersville High School is someone to admire. In school, Handwerk is a hard working student and a good friend.

What is your favorite thing about WHS?

“WHS has an amazing sense of community and school spirit. I personally am not that into watching sports, but it’s always exciting to watch everyone get pumped up for the big game.”

What are your accomplishments in high school?

“Umm… well you’ve got the usuals that a lot of people get, honor roll, academic excellence, but I was also accepted into both the National Honors Society, and Tri-M, (the music national honors society) in my junior year. I received the AP Scholar award too. Plus, I’m a National Merit semi-finalist.”

Have you ever played sports? If so, which ones, and when did you play?

“I started playing soccer when I was six. I played for GVAA until I got to high school. I was on the JV team my freshman and sophomore year. I tried a season of softball in 2010, but didn’t care for it much.”

Handwerk is also a volunteer for her local fire and EMS company. This took training and dedication to achieve, and being a senior in high school makes it all the harder.

What motivates you?

“I’d like to say something cheesy like ‘helping people’ or ‘giving back to the community’, and those are both nice and a definite plus, but if I’m honest the motivation mostly comes from feeling grown up and important. As a high schooler, I’m sure a lot of my classmates will agree that it’s hard to be stuck in the inbetween stage. Not really kids, but still not adults. In EMS (Emergency Medical Services) (Handwerk is involved in) there [are]  no adults and minors. You’re either trained or you aren’t.”

How did you get into the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) business?

“My dad was actually a volunteer paramedic and firefighter in Virginia before my brother and I were born. He ended up with shoulder and back issues, plus two small kids, so he had to give it up. When we moved from Waterside to Woodsboro in 2012, we ended up within walking distance to the local volunteer station. When he joined, the rest of the family got dragged along. I got hooked, and the rest is history.”

What is being an EMT like?

“It’s definitely interesting. You get to see people at some of the lowest points in their lives. However, for every bad call there are good things that come with it. One day you are out on a bad car accident or a big house fire, and the next you’re at a parade or carnival with everyone cheering and thanking you for your service. It’s definitely stressful. Putting on the uniform gives the public an expectation of you. Being a volunteer too means you don’t have work hours. There is no ‘I’m off the clock’ excuse. You’re always on duty.”

What’s your favorite memory so far from being an EMT?

“There really isn’t one specific time I can talk about. My favorite thing about all of this is the sense of community. Actually, there is an example… After a house fire, we had to clean and flush out all of the hoses we had used. During the cleaning, rinsing, and repacking process, the two county supplied career staff, two other volunteers and I passed the time by ragging on each other, discussing the call, and keeping a running commentary of dirty jokes. We really are a family, and that sense of belonging and togetherness is honestly one of the best feelings in the world.”

Planning to go to a college? If so, which one?

“I’m definitely going to college. My top choice at the moment is West Virginia University, but, like most people, my final decision will be based on money.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

“Either still in school for my masters degree or, hopefully, working in a forensics evidence lab. A lot of people think I’m crazy that I went through all the training to be an EMT when it’s not really related to what I want to do in life.”

Handwerk is a hard working individual. If you see her in school or working as an EMT, be sure to thank her for her service.