Some people will tell you there’s a price to pay in return for doing good deeds. Several people may only volunteer to help if they are rewarded. For Amy Early, helping others is her favorite hobby. She takes pride in this behavior within both the workplace and her household.
Born and raised in Griffith, Early has spent the last 20 years working as a firefighter paramedic. Currently, she assists the community as a member of the Cedar Lake Fire Department.
“I’ve been there for five years now,” Early said. “I’ve grown to love it because it’s not about just trying to help people that are sick or injured; it’s about also educating them. We want to make sure everybody has a good routine going to their primary doctor.”
On top of her occupation, one of the biggest motives for Early has been to advocate for spreading more positivity. She makes contributions with various groups to help create a healthy environment.
“The world needs more positive news,” Early said. “We’ve started bringing mental health awareness to first responders and started a peer support group in Northwest Indiana. I’m proud to be a member of that group and hope we can continue to invite others to open up.”
A vision of becoming a firefighter paramedic wasn’t always on the forefront of Early’s mind. After starting college, she knew that her career trajectory needed to be figured out. She weighed her options before deciding that her biggest passion came from helping people.
“I was interested in working with the trades or the military at that time,” Early said. “I knew what my goal was, and it led me to getting started as an emergency medical technician. That way I could not only help individuals but also their families.”
Early also serves as a part-time fireman for the City of Crown Point.
Outside of the fire department, she’s a mother of three kids. She loves nothing more than being able to support them in their journeys.
“I’m very involved with helping them,” Early said. “My two boys are away at college right now, so that has been an adjustment. My youngest daughter plays several sports. Whenever I’m not working, I’m going to be at her events. I want to be there for them because it’s the best hobby I could ask for as a mother.”
Assisting the community has always been the greatest gift of joy for Early. She says that it’s free to be kind to your peers and suggests that others continue to exemplify positive actions and relationships with one another.
“Try to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes,” Early said. “Share a smile with somebody, because it costs nothing. Positivity can go a very long way.”
While she has not crossed the bridge yet and doesn’t intend to for the next several years, Early plans to set herself on a successful retirement path for when that day comes. For now, her appreciation stems from being a branch in the community’s giving tree.