Henry Berkson ‘26 wakes up in the middle of the night to the Fire Department’s alarm system. He quickly gets up and packs all his things, double-checking that he has his camera. Running alongside the firefighters, unsure if the alarms are for an enormous brush fire or a just small water leak, Berkson mentally prepares for whatever is to come.
Berkson earned 1123 community service hours this past school year serving Los Angeles Fire Department, Station 78. Since 2022, he has been volunteering in three distinct roles: he serves as a cadet, where he does ride-alongs, cleans the station and assists on calls; as a photographer; and as an intern for the public information office. Working from Friday evening to Sunday morning, Berkson earns a total of 36 hours each weekend.
“I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since I was little,” Berkson said. “I’ve always had a big passion for helping people since and being able to do something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life, while giving back to the community, is just really rewarding. Also the fact that the fire department has so many different fields you can go into – you can be a pilot, a boat driver, an arson investigator, a photographer – it seems like the best thing for me.”
As he has always dreamed of becoming a firefighter, Berkson has found a deeper purpose behind his community service hours. He has even incorporated other interests, such as photography, which he’s been exploring as a member of the yearbook and taking photography classes at school. In addition to exploring his passion, being a cadet is already a stepping stone into getting the job of a firefighter.
“I already have so many connections which is super beneficial for me,” Berkson said. “After high school once I turn 18, I am planning on getting my EMT certification. Afterwards, I want to get my paramedic license so that I can give the most care I can. I definitely still want to go to college after high school; having a college degree can really help you move up the ladder once you get the job.”
Berkson’s passion for helping people has fueled his drive to spend the majority of his weekend to stay the night at a fire station. He gets woken up multiple times throughout the night for both false alarms and real emergencies.
“I’m basically willing to not sleep and drop everything to go and help people out,” Berkson said. “It’s not something that’s relaxed, you are always down and dirty. Working at the station is a lot of work, and I take time out of my day as a student and kid who would usually be hanging out with his friends over the weekend, but I really enjoy working there.”
Volunteering with the fire department has truly opened Berkson’s eyes. He and the fire department see a lot of things raw and up close, which is often drastically different from the blurred image the news would show. Aside from serving the city, Berkson’s volunteering has helped him grow as a person.
“There’s a lot of things that people don’t realize or aren’t exposed to in the world until they see them,” Berkson said. “I need to interact with [people who call 911] and help them in their worst time, so I take that feeling of judgment and get rid of it. It’s a reality check for me and opened my eyes to how the world works. Lots of people ask ‘Why would you wanna do this so young? You’re still a kid.’ I don’t really look at it that way, I see it as something that I am passionate about.”
