Skills for the Future

I have learned a lot and gained a much broader skill set since week 1 of Technical Writing Class. The course has been challenging but has allowed me to get more comfortable with different applications on the computer such as Word and Powerpoint. Since the beginning of class I have learned things that will benefit me in my career and have became much more comfortable with writing in general. Before this class, I was uncertain of what steps composed the 5 step writing process. This course has taught me a lot about page design, creating memo's, editing documents, etc. In the beginning of the course I did not realize how much this course would benefit me in my profession. A couple of weeks ago I actually decided to create a professional memo for the fire department to view in regards to training. Before this class I would not have had the confidence or skills to do that. The fire service includes much more than providing medical skills and fire suppression. Often, we are at a desk writing reports or performing administrative duties which is where Technical Writing has proven to be beneficial. This course has challenged me to discover a creative side in me that I didn't know I had.

Firefighting and Public Speaking

As a firefighter/paramedic we are constantly communicating and interacting with the public. It is very common for fire departments to be asked to attend school events or birthday parties. Public speaking is something that I was once very nervous about but with time and practice I am much more comfortable and even enjoy it now. Several months ago my co-workers and I attended a church event with about 100  kids and were asked to speak and show off our equipment. Surprisingly, I found that the toughest part of the presentation was answering the questions that the kids had for us. You would be surprised what questions a group of 10-13 year old kids can think to ask. Because I have had practice over the last 2 years with public speaking, I have became a more confident public speaker. At events with a large crowd I am generally the first person to volunteer to begin the event and speak. Like anything, practice makes better.

Creativity

It seems that when people think "technical writing" they think that the course consists of writing only and assume it is much like a traditional English course. This is far from accurate however. Technical writing requires creativity, effort, time management, and planning. This course has required me to be creative by creating a memo template, letterhead, editing documents while utilizing effective page design, etc. I do not believe that it is possible to be too creative but I do think that it is possible to not be creative enough. When I think of the word creative, I think of a term that means for someone to express their unique ideas in art or writing form. As human beings we all have unique ideas and expressions. Through creativity we have the ability to showcase our feelings and emotions. I believe that it is possible to not be creative enough because everyone has ideas and  an imagination but not everyone puts in the effort to show that side of them. It doesn't take an artist to be creative, it takes effort.

Tips for the Future

Over the last few weeks I have learned new information that I am able to put forth and use in my professional firefighting career. The last few weeks we have been required to update our e-portfolio which includes having to add personal accomplishments, transcripts, etc. The e-portfolio project has been challenging but I can see the importance that it plays for students in college that are seeking a professional career after graduation. We have also learned and discussed as a class, the impact that social media can have on people's lives in a negative way. I have learned to be very cautious when it comes to posting controversial subject matter for the "world to see." In the fire department it is obviously very important to maintain patient privacy in accordance with HIPAA. Last week's discussion was a helpful reminder in the sense that you must think before you post or write something in regards to social media. The last couple of weeks Technical Writing class has covered different topics that I have already found to be beneficial in my career surprisingly. Before the class began I was intimidated by being required to keep up with a blog, LinkedIn account, and an e-portfolio but now I feel that I can work through different tasks and get whatever job done that is required of me.