Wrote from a canadian point where yes it is only one year to become a paramedic, not meant to offend just a humorous self reflection.
Stage 1-The High.
Newly out of school, still riding that intellectual high, big ego cause after your year of learning you're practically a doctor, right? You make your own rules and can't be taught anything, I mean how could you, you know everything right?
Stage 2- The Crash.
That egotistical high follows a fast crash as the over inflated falsitys of your recent 6 month PhD filled with the infamous "dissociation curves", "flail chests and femor deformities" are not your everyday calls. You realize these are real people and not plastic faceless mannequins, and this brings your presumptuous egotistical behavior to a screeching halt. You've become bambi, wide eyed staring into the great EMS abyss wondering how you got there, and what to do.
Stage 3- The Holy Shit stage.
You realize these are people, with real heart beats, families crying, pleading with you to do something, "save them", "do something". You should know right but that 6 month PhD you possess no longer holds your falsley inflated ego in place. There are no participation ribbons, you don't get to just float by you realize the true Intensity of the career you've chosen. The absolute importance of every split second decision you make. The importance of these decisions rests upon you and you're no longer audacious. You're no longer in a competition for needing to be on top. That classic A type personality now moves to the side to allow you to become receptive to the world around you, your partner, your mentors and other first responders.
Stage 4- The humbled stage.
Quite the roller coaster right? You've finally come to some sort of conclusion that the simple choice of attending your post secondary school to become a paramedic was a powerful decision. One that changes you intrinsically. You've hit this stage because you've finally realized that this is all bigger then you, it's bigger then you could have ever imagined. You bow down to the idea that help is not "failing" but the first true step in personal growth and increasing your knowledge to be able to better help the people you intended too. It's why you chose this path, to help people. Don't ever allow yourself to forget why you made this choice.
Stage 5- Your own path.
You're now on your own path allowing input, critique and praise to keep your sense of direction on track. You're receptive to the advice given, you take the positives and allow the pessimism that conjours at the bottom of any organization to slide off. You're an incredible person. You do things most people can't. Don't take advantage of your role. Be kind. Never stop learning. Take care of your mental health. If you're whole you can help the people you set out to help in the first place more effectively. This career is a roller coaster of mountains and valleys. Take the experiences and knowlegde gained from every altitude. Maintain your positivity and be grateful you can make such incredible differences in people's lives. Continue to practice and engage in empathy. I'm proud of the choice you made, I'm proud of this organization and career. These stages will mold you, don't let them break you, use them as the foundation in which you build this rewarding career on.
***The ghost stage.. cynicism.
Be wary of this stage. All those repetitive calls that come in. Yes you'll pick up the same patient with the same issue many times but don't allow complacency to blind you. You never truly know when they will be receptive to the care and helpful advice you have. The dark humor, it's how many first responders muddle through tough calls. You're allowed to feel! Everyone has something that gets them through a rough call, be attentive to your co-workers, they are who have your back and vice versa. Ask for help even if you don't need it. Don't allow cynicism to ever fully take over revert to stage 5! You've got this.