For as long as he can remember, A.J. Coston wanted to be a firefighter. As a young child, he would watch fire engines go by and imagine what it would be like to be on one of them, and as he grew older, his interest in the profession only grew stronger. So when Coston discovered Loudoun County's junior firefighter program while surfing the internet two years ago, he did not hesitate to submit an application.
"It's been amazing," said Coston, 18. "I've learned a lot, and I've seen a lot of things that have helped influence my decisions in high school not to do stupid things. Firehouse life is awesome."
Coston is currently a senior at Flint Hill preparatory school in Fairfax, but the McLean resident spent his formative years at The Langley School, where he was a student from age four to 14. On Thursday, March 15, Coston paid a visit to his former school and spoke to the lower school students about his experiences in the Loudoun County junior firefighter program.
"So many kids want to be firemen, and we have this real-life Langley alum who is doing it," said Sharon Ifft, director of communications at The Langley School. "He had this dream as a kid and at the age of 16 he began pursuing it, and I think he's a great example for the kids of the importance of having a goal and following through."
During her introduction of Coston at the assembly, school administrator Meg Klute commended him for his ambition and his willingness to take on so much extra work during high school.
"He has only been gone for four years and he has already done so much with his life," said Klute.
TO COMPLETE the junior firefighters program, Coston had to undergo 160 hours of firefighting training and 140 hours of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training. Coston said the most difficult aspect of the program was the challenge of fulfilling the required training hours while simultaneously attending high school. For the last two years, Coston attended training sessions three times a week — two three and a half hour night sessions, and one full-day session every weekend.
"The firefighting classes are very long but you learn a lot," he said.
Coston said that he had the opportunity to go on a variety of interesting calls during his training, including one where four people had been struck by lightning while hanging out together in an open field.
"One of them was in cardiac arrest and I got to do CPR," said Coston. "We got his heartbeat back before we got to the hospital which doesn't usually happen — usually they have to do that at the hospital, so that felt really good."
In the ambulance, Coston administered CPR to the victim while the medic performed chest compressions. Fortunately, Coston said he does not feel panicked in such high pressure situations.
"You're just thinking so much about what you gotta do," he said.
Although Coston enjoyed his EMT training and gets a thrill from riding in the ambulance, he said his heart still belongs to his lifelong career aspiration.
"I like fighting fires more," said Coston. "There's more of an adrenaline rush and EMT can be the same thing over and over again."
Last December Coston had the chance to respond to a house fire, and said he learned a lot during the call because there were no hydrants near the property.
"We had to go and find water and bring it from a lake," said Coston.
COSTON HAD an enthusiastic audience at The Langley School, and the former alum was barraged with questions that ranged from inquiries about whether or not his dad was a firefighter, to what teachers he had during his years at The Langley School.
"I'm the first one in my family to be a firefighter, so I don't know where I got the genes to do it," said Coston.
Coston said that his parents are very proud of him for pursuing his dream, but also worry about his safety. Before leaving, Coston picked one student volunteer out of the audience to come try on his firefighting gear. Austin Marsilia was the lucky winner and the enthusiastic third grader donned the heavy and oversized paraphernalia.
"It hurt," said Austin afterwards.
Coston explained that firefighters had to practice getting into their gear as quickly as possible.
"We sleep, eat, watch TV — and I do my homework — at the firehouse," said Coston. "We have to be prepared to go at a moment's notice."