For two decades, Captain Vernon A. Richard High School for Fire and Life Safety has motivated students to pursue careers in public service. In honor of this milestone, Join FDNY is highlighting some of the outstanding alumni who have gone on to serve with the FDNY.
When Paramedic Pancho Bajana first enrolled at the high school, he didn’t speak any English. Having moved to the United States from Ecuador with his family a few years earlier, he remembers feeling lost as he navigated the school environment. “I was struggling at first, but my teachers and fellow students were a huge help,” said Bajana. “I worked really hard. I wanted to overcome all my difficulties, including the second language barrier. I was in ESL until my junior year.”
Bajana thrived and joined the high school EMS program. There, he discovered his passion for a career in medicine, one that would allow him to give back to New York City communities. He graduated as the valedictorian of the Class of 2013. “I remember graduation like it was yesterday. I thanked my teachers, my parents, and my classmates. It was such an emotional day because it showed me that with hard work, anything is possible.”
After graduation, Bajana enrolled in the inaugural Winter EMS Academy (WEMSA), where he earned his EMT Basic Certification. He went on to work at a private ambulance company before joining the FDNY EMS Academy. In August 2022, Bajana was promoted to Paramedic and is assigned to Station 44.
“I love coming to work and the people I work with. They’re like family. Helping people during their most harsh times and letting them know everything is going to be ok is a wonderful feeling. It changes you,” reflected Bajana. “I always tell kids that we all have difficulties to overcome but if you keep working hard and doing what you love, it will be worth it. Focus on the big picture and keep going.”
