While Laura Ochoa was on a path toward becoming a teacher, she started exploring other options. So when a mentor in El Paso introduced her to firefighting, she decided to give it a try.
“I did my EMT-Basic, and I liked the medical part of it,” said Ochoa, 27. “And when I was doing my ride-alongs with the fire department, this is what I wanted to do as a career.”
At first, some of Ochoa’s relatives expressed concern about her choice to go into a traditionally male-dominated field. But they supported her as she continued to pursue a job that piqued her interest.
“I was the only girl in all my family for a long time,” Ochoa said. “I grew up with my cousins, and I was always active — working out, sports, just hands-on.”