Filip Rajpert has worked his way into the hearts of the small community of Yerington. His host parents Kevin and Michelle Kruse find Filip a perfect fit for their family and couldn’t be prouder of him. Filip’s straight A’s have earned him a 4.0 GPA, and he has made many friends inside and outside of the school. “I really love my school; the people that I met here are amazing,” Filip said. He has actively participated in the school community. He took part in the drama club, and even played the Butler in the play A Mystery Murdered. The school principal also speaks fondly of Filip, wishing he had more students like him!
After Filip’s host mother introduced him to a volunteer firefighter, he began volunteering at the Yerington Mason Valley Fire Department. “Firefighting and being an emergency responder is my passion. I like to help people. All of the skills I learn here, I can help my people back home,” he explained. He also stated that it allows him to give back to his host community, where he became recognizable and appreciated by its members. To that end, Filip currently has more than 1009 volunteer hours and is planning on completing even more! Filip spends every weekend at the fire department, and he has gone on calls, saved lives, and bravely handled harrowing scenes. Everyone at the fire department is very impressed with him, including the fire chief. The love goes both ways, with Filip remarking, “The department is not just a building with a few fire trucks, it's people who make it what it really is, that's why MVFD is the most amazing place I've ever been to. Being part of it is the highest honor for me.”
Filip has taken several courses and has earned certificates for Hazmat Operations, Introduction Incident Command System, and Weapons of Mass Destruction for Emergency Responders, Introduction to National Incident Management System, Fire Behavior for Wild Land Fires, Basic Firefighting, and CPR for Emergency Responders. He started an EMT class and is working on his ride-along hours on the back of an ambulance. Filip noted that in Poland, fire departments don’t generally have ambulances, which are operated by a separate state EMS agency. Filip’s goal is to complete all of the courses and become a Fire Fighter One and EMT Basic level before the end of his FLEX program. “I love helping and saving people and I love working in a team of other dedicated individuals,” Filip said about his interest in Fire and EMS. He hopes to go to medical college and then work on an ambulance, while continuing volunteering as a firefighter.
The Yerington community’s four-legged residents have also taken a liking to Filip. The host family’s cat Allie cuddles with him, brings him presents (such as stuffed animals), and jumps on his shoulders to hang out with him. Allie misses Filip when he is at the fire station and meows loudly waiting for him to return – perhaps even louder than the firetruck’s sirens!
Filip is really enjoying his experience in America. He is learning a lot, making friends, and trying new things.
Congratulations, Filip!
