Hoage, Kirstyn

Kirstyn Hoage Interview

This is File #5, cycle 4. Today’s date is November 20, 2018. This is Jean McMillen. I am interviewing Kirstyn Hoage. She is going to talk about the Salisbury Summer Youth Program and the Junior Firefighting Program. First we’ll begin with:

JM:What is your name?

KH:My name is Kirstyn Hoage.

JM:Kirstyn did you participate in the Salisbury Summer Youth Program?

KH:Yes, I did.

JM:How did you hear about it?

KH:I heard about it through my father who did it when he was my age.

JM:Did you have to apply?

KH:Yes, I did have to apply.

JM:Was there a form to fill out?

KH:Yes there was a form to fill out like a normal job application.

JM:Where did you pick up the application?

KH:They had a meeting at the school for a certain time and date. You go down and fill it out.

JM:How many were in the group this year?

KH:I want to say 20 to 30.

JM:How many work choices were given?

KH:I want to say there were 7.

JM:What did you choose?

KH:My first choice was being a janitor at Salisbury Central.

JM:Did you have a second choice?

KH:Yes, it was to work here at the history room.

JM:Thank you. When you were at your work site, were you supervised by adults?

KH:Yes, we were supervised by adults.

JM:Were all of the jobs filled that were offered?2.

KH:Yes they were.

JM:Were you paid?

KH:I was paid.

JM:You told me that you didn’t get the full minimum wage because you were a minor.

KH:Yes, if you are under 16, you get 85% of the minimum.

JM:What did you do when you were working at Salisbury Central? What were some of the jobs you did?

KH:I helped strip floors and put new wax on them. I also helped clean up equipment in the kitchen.

JM:Did you enjoy all of it, or parts of it, or none of it?

KH:I enjoyed when I got to work one on one with one of the custodians.

JM:Why did you enjoy it?

KH:I enjoyed it because I got to have a lot of one on one time with someone. I learned about them when I had just met them. We gained a bond between each other. By the end of the program we knew how each other worked.

JM:What was the name of the person you worked one on one with?

KH:His name was Pete; I don’t remember his last name.

JM:Did you learn any skills particularly?

KH:I learned that you have to communicate to people. You can’t tell them that you are coming in, and not come in. If you are going to be late, tell someone or you get punished. It holds up other people too.

JM:Did you enjoy working in the Summer Youth Program to do it again?

KH:Yes, I would do it again.

JM:Would you do the same work site?

KH:I would either do the same work site or try to come here.

JM:I am not pressing, but that would be excellent. You have had some work experience beforehand.

KH:Yes, I worked at Ellsworth Farms in Sharon.

JM:It was more of a gopher thing, was it not?3.

KH:Yes.

JM:You have a new job lined up, don’t you?

KH:I do. I work at Thornhill flower shop.

JM:Have you started working there?

KH:I start on Friday.

JM:Good for you. Is there anything else that you would like to talk about for the summer Youth Program?

KH:No, I don’t think so.

JM:You are in the Junior Fire Fighting Program. How did you get involved with that?

KH:I got involved through my family. My grandparents and then my father had grown up in that and then I wanted to do it.

JM:So there is family background.

KH:Yes

JM:Did you remember to ask your grandfather if he had taught the program?

KH:Yes he did teach and he told me that he was one of the early founders of the junior firefighters program.

JM:That is what I thought. Do you enjoy the program?

KH:I do. I enjoy it a lot.

JM:How many are there in the program now?

KH:There are 5 juniors now.

JM:Mostly boys?

KHYeah, I am the only girl.

JM:You are special. I know there are Caleb white, Nathan Farwell, Jack LeMay, and Nick DeVito. When do you meet?

KH:We meet every Wednesday at 6:00 PM>

JM:Where?

KH:At the fire house4.

JM:Who teaches it?

KH:Jenn Farwell and Bob Flint

JM:Do they teach together or does one do one section and Bob does the other section?

KH:They teach it together.

JM:What have you learned so far?

KH:I have learned a lot about the fire company. I have learned a lot about hands-on fire and stuff.

I have also learned a lot about teamwork and trust in other people.

JM:Some of those skills can be transferred into your regular life.

KH:Yeah

JM:Particularly the teamwork and communication skills

KH:Yeah

JM:Is there any particular skill that you really enjoy?

KH:I enjoy the connection that we have when we are all together. We come together as a little family.

JM:Have you ever been on active duty?

KH:I have not. Everyone else has other than Jack LeMay. There was a fire down the street from the elementary school and they helped out with air packs.

JM:Have you learned to use an air pack?

KH:We learned to change air packs and we learned how to work. We are not allowed to put one on because of the state laws and safety regulations.

JM:Are you interested in becoming a lady firefighter?

KH:I either want to do that or be a vet when I get older. But being a fire fighter is definitely out there.

JM:Being a vet it is hard to get into school.

KH:Yeah

 

5.

JM:It is a nice aspiration, either one. What would you like to add about the junior firefighting program?

KH:A lot of people will say, “Oh you have a girl for your chief or she is never there half the time.” But everybody has their own time when they can be there or not. It is all about commitment. That is why I got chief because I am more committed than the others in the group. I also have known them my whole life and I can take charge if I need too.

JM:Yes, I gathered that just with talking to you. That is important.

KH:Yeah

JM:A leader has to make decisions for the group as well as for the best interests of whatever they are doing. It is a responsibility that not everybody wants to have.

KH:Yes.

JM:Thank you so much

KH:You are welcome.