Two Person County fire departments have built a relationship with a young firefighter who has had to overcome challenges to follow his lifelong career plan of becoming a firefighter. Garrett Poole is a senior at Person High School who decided to step away from the extracurricular activities being offered at the school in exchange for a chance at a real-life adventure. With help from his parents, educators and local firemen, Poole is working to make one of his long-lasting dreams come true. “I do my best. I have to learn to live and live to learn,” said Poole. Poole was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. His mother describes his disability as being a learning process. “You don’t know what to expect, what they will ever accomplish and it’s hard,” said Garrett’s mother, Michelle Poole.