Michael Turner

Malcolm X College student Michael Turner already has an impressive resume. He’s a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) and a member of the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Still, Michael isn’t done striving for greatness. Even as he’s currently deployed overseas, he’s preparing to continue his education by completing the Fire Science Operations and Fire Science Management programs at Malcolm X.

The Southeast Side native is no stranger to City Colleges of Chicago. His grandmother was a professor at Olive-Harvey College for 30 years in the Nursing Department. So, when he decided on a career as a firefighter, he knew one of the seven City Colleges could help him.

Michael discovered Malcolm X’s courses and partnerships would make him a stronger firefighter candidate. Chief Eric Strong at Malcolm X helped Michael develop a personalized plan of action, mapping out exactly what classes to take to reach his goal. These classes gave Michael the basic knowledge and taught him standard fire operating procedures, which gave him a leg up over other job seekers.

“Malcolm X set me up to not just be a firefighter, but to hold a leadership position in the department,” Michael shared.

After putting in the hard work, Michael joined the Chicago Fire Department. While his first few months were still challenging, Michael felt prepared as a new CFD member. He knew the terminology, how to tackle unique problems, and why certain solutions were being implemented.

“Having that knowledge took 80 percent of the guesswork out of the equation,” said Michael. “Thanks to my preparation at Malcolm X, I didn’t have to learn on the fly in a stressful environment.”

Michael wants to continue his education in fire science. He hopes to utilize the partnerships Malcolm X has with four-year universities to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fire science to become a more well-rounded firefighter. His ultimate goal is to move up the ranks in CFD, with dreams of becoming a lieutenant or captain and eventually becoming chief.

Michael’s advice for others thinking about enrolling at City Colleges? Always stay enrolled, even if time and money will only allow you to take one or two classes. He also encourages others to take advantage of the support services like tutoring and the Wellness Center and to connect with classmates. According to Michael, you never know what doors a connection may open up.