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Glendale: Attracting ethnic candidates to ranks

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  • Glendale: Attracting ethnic candidates to ranks

    Los Angeles Daily News, CA
    Sept 26 2004

    Attracting ethnic candidates to ranks

    Fire Department redefining itself for community

    By Naush Boghossian
    Staff Writer


    GLENDALE -- Patrick Hambarchian and Sevak Karapetyan's parents were
    not exactly thrilled when their boys made the decision to become
    firefighters.

    It's a dangerous job, their parents said. It's not a prestigious
    career. It doesn't pay enough.

    So the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce stepped in to pay the
    $2,500 to put them through the one-year program at the Glendale
    Arroyo Seco Fire Academy.

    "With this scholarship, we can help Armenian parents and kids
    understand that there is no stigma to be attached to careers in fire
    or police," said Armen Janian of the Armenian chamber.

    "We want Armenians to know it's a very rewarding career financially,
    and, more important than that, it's rewarding because they are
    helping the community."

    Once Hambarchian and Karapetyan graduate from the academy, they will
    be state certified firefighters. In order to become Glendale
    firefighters, they would need to attend another fire academy.

    The Glendale Fire Department, which has no Armenian firefighters,
    finds itself coming up against Armenian families' perceptions of what
    constitutes an "acceptable" career, Capt. Carlos Guerrero said.

    "We're having difficulty recruiting Armenians and Koreans and
    reaching them as far as having them consider the fire department as a
    professional career," Guerrero said. "These two young gentlemen are
    the trailblazers. We're hoping they're successful in their endeavor
    and will be role models to other Armenian kids."

    Karapetyan said his parents initially struggled with perceptions of
    firemen they carried over from Armenia, where the profession does not
    inspire respect.

    "When I told them I was thinking about it, they weren't too happy
    about it," said Karapetyan, 20. "After I told them about it more and
    made them see the difference between fire departments here and in
    Armenia, they've become more flexible. Since they see how I'll be
    helping the community out, they're for it."

    His father said the announcement took him by surprise, but he said he
    was proud his son will set an example for other Armenians.

    "This is dangerous work, and you want your child to be in a safe
    place, but the important thing is this is something he really loves,"
    Norik Karapetyan said. "The boys have to become an example, and they
    must do well, because by seeing them, young Armenians will choose
    that path."

    Ultimately, nothing -- neither the lack of money nor their parents'
    disapproval -- was going to stand in the way of them pursuing their
    dreams, both boys said.

    "It's what I want to be," Hambarchian said. "It doesn't matter to me
    who does or doesn't approve of it. I couldn't see myself doing
    anything else.

    "I don't want to come home and say I made a lot of money. That
    doesn't matter to me. Knowing I helped someone out that day, I'd be a
    lot more happy with myself."

    Both are aware that if they do land jobs as firefighters, they could
    set an example for other Armenians interested in the field.

    "If the kids see that people from their background and culture are
    heroes, they might feel it's more acceptable to get into it,"
    Hambarchian said. "Just to see someone of your culture working in a
    field, it could inspire them."
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