VIDEO: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire biology student Albert Lin did not expect his undergraduate experience to include fighting fires and saving lives.
The Evansville native attended UW-Eau Claire with plans to focus primarily on his academics. But he soon learned of a public-service opportunity from a peer in his chemistry course about becoming a firefighter for the Altoona Fire Department.
Having an interest in the medical field to serve the greater good, Lin wanted to bolster his professional experience while pursuing his biology degree. Upon being hired, Lin needed intensive training to become a firefighter and be certified as an emergency medical responder.
Through the Altoona Fire Department, Lin enrolled at Chippewa Valley Technical College while juggling 17 course credits at UW-Eau Claire, an endeavor he says proved to be challenging but rewarding in the end.