MONONGAHELA - Abigail Begandy doesn't mind marching to the beat of her own drum.
Begandy, 16, a junior at Ringgold High School, recently was sworn in as a junior firefighter for the Monongahela Fire Department.
She was sworn in Oct. 7 and became the department's third female firefighter.
"All my life, my community and family and friends have helped me and I just wanted to do something to give back," said Begandy.
"Originally, I had planned on going into the army. But my mom didn't want me to do that because she said there is just too much crazy stuff going on in the world," she said.
"So, I decided to become a firefighter."
Begandy first talked to the city's fire chief about her aspirations and then she filled out an application.
"I had to wait about a month while they got together and voted on me and then I got a letter in the mail that said I was voted in."
As a junior firefighter, Begandy has "the same duties as other firefighters" and that includes attending meetings, attending drills and keeping the fire hall, station and equipment clean.
Of course, she has one duty that other firefighters do not have.
"I have to maintain my grades in school," she said.
At Ringgold, Begandy is hoping to start a new club for students as her graduation project.
"I'm a lesbian and I want to start a club for students to be comfortable in their own skin and not be shunned," she said.
Begandy said if she gets permission to start the club from high school Principal Dwayne Homa, her organization will also try to get students to be more acceptable and understanding of students with different personalities and traits.
Being a junior firefighter is not Begandy's only outside activity. She also works as a cook at McDonald's restaurant in the city.
She is the daughter of Tracy and David Emerick, of Monongahela, and the granddaughter of Judith and Ed Eisenberg, of Monongahela, and William and Debbie Buskirk, of Copley.
After high school, Begandy plans to go to nursing school and become a nurse.
Being a nurse, like being a firefighter, would allow her to continue giving back to her community, she said.
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
