Elementary student wins tour of fire station
Courtesy photo<br> Discover Elementary fourth-grader Mikayla Jenkins, third from the left, brought her family and friends with her on a special trip to the Moses Lake Fire Department.
MOSES LAKE — Discover Elementary fourth-grader Mikayla Jenkins’ love of animals helped her win a district-wide essay contest.
“I wrote how I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up and wrote about how my favorite animal is a white tiger,” said the 10 year old. “I said I wanted to be a veterinarian because I love animals and want to help them.”
Jenkins competed against fourth and fifth grade classes in the Moses Lake School District. She was sitting in class with friends when the school’s loudspeaker came on and a staff member announced her as the winner.
“I was so shocked because I wasn’t thinking I was going to win,” Jenkins said. “I jumped up and down yelling and my friends did the same thing with me.”
As a reward, Jenkins got to select two friends to go with her on a field trip to the Moses Lake Fire Department building. A firefighter came to Jenkins’ school in a fire truck and escorted her to the station.
“I got to ride in the truck with my friend and brother,” she said. “We wore these headphones that allowed us to talk to each other.”
Brother Michael Jenkins and friend Sara Mengist were Jenkins’ chosen companions. Jenkins’ grandpa, aunt and mother also went on the trip with her.
“I thought it was great that the family was able to come see Mikayla and take pictures,” said mother Angela Jenkins. “Mikayla just had so much fun.”
Angela wasn’t surprised her daughter won the essay contest.
“It was a cute essay with a ton of personality in it,” Angela said. “She is a really good writer.”
Angela is glad Mikayla and her friends learned more about the duties of firefighters.
“It is just really great that our community honors the students in this way and coordinates with agencies,” she said. “I would like to see more events like this.”
While on the trip, Mikayla, her friends and her family toured the fire truck, the fire station and met with firefighters.
“I didn’t know much about what firefighters did before this,” Mikayla said. “I was surprised to hear that they have to stay at work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.”
Mikayla feels more confident talking to public safety workers now, she said.
“If I ran into one of them in an emergency situation I wouldn’t be afraid,” Mikayla said. “They were all really friendly and cool.”