From silent library to emergency sirens: Polk State EMT grad takes unexpected career leap

For years, Crystal Gonzalez was known as a calm, welcoming presence at the Polk State College Winter Haven library, assisting students with research and helping create the peaceful environment so many rely on during demanding semesters. Some may not know, however, that Gonzalez was studying to become an emergency medical technician (EMT).

In June, she joined the fast-paced world of emergency medical services (EMS), working as an EMT on an ambulance for American Medical Response (AMR). She credits Polk State’s EMS Program for preparing her well and the College for supporting its employees in reaching their fullest potential.

“The difference is huge, going from a calm, quiet library to the hectic environment of EMS,” Gonzalez explained, “but I’m confident in my skills thanks to Polk State.”

Whether calm or crazy, Gonzalez highlighted that the environment at Polk State is always supportive.

While she was studying Liberal Arts at the College in 2022, she spent a lot of time in the campus library and learned about the opportunity to become a Learning Resources Assistant. The position fit well into her schedule and her plans as she continued to explore programs and career options.

“This is the closest that I’ve gotten to working at a place that, when they say they’re family, they actually are,” she described with appreciation.

Her schedule was a juxtaposition between the serenity of the library and the intense rigor of the EMS Program, where she benefited from real-world, hands-on learning opportunities that prepared Gonzalez for her new role. She highlighted mass casualty incident simulations, training on equipment used in the field, as well as the professional experience and passion of the instructors.

She first completed her Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certificate and then the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate.

Gonzalez noted differences in skill levels in the EMT Program when working with peers who had completed EMR at Polk State versus those who had not.

“Students who came from other EMR programs hadn’t learned certain things and weren’t as prepared in the way that those of us who had gone through Polk State,” she explained.

“A lot of [them hadn’t even done] labs, which I think is very important because you need hands-on skills,” Gonzalez added. “What sets Polk State’s program apart from others is the real-world approach to training and the professors who have years of experience in the field. They are very passionate about their subjects, which made it easier to learn from them.”

Graduates of Polk State’s EMS Program boast 100% licensure pass rates, far exceeding state and national averages.

Gonzalez graduated as valedictorian of both her EMR and EMT classes and recently welcomed her baby into the world. She is now entering her career field confidently and with the passion her instructors instilled in her. She plans to become a paramedic and aspires to one day serve as a flight medic.

“Polk State teaches you how to speak up for yourself and how to enter into adult life,” she said. “I’m not going to say it’s not hard, but it is possible. If I was able to do it…, you can do it.”