KIPP Harmony Academy issued the following announcement on Dec. 12.
“I always knew I wanted to give back to my community. Now, I’m proud to help break down barriers and serve as a role model for little girls across our city.”
Tyonia Mclean can get dressed for work in 60 seconds flat, and her primary accessories are a hydrant wrench and a hose. Tyonia fights fires in Baltimore City for a living, and she also often fights against stereotypes. “Being a young African American woman, people often question my abilities as a firefighter, such as whether I can throw a ladder. I don’t let that stop me or keep me from reaching my goals.” Climbing through the ranks since graduating high school, Tyonia has been a firefighter for three years in West Baltimore and says that what she loves most about her job is being a role model for other young women. Tyonia says that her time at KIPP helped foster her commitment to serving her community, and that she often leans on the character strengths she cultivated, like optimism and zest, to get her through even the toughest shifts.
Original source can be found here.
Source: KIPP Harmony Academy