Disappointment...

... doesn't even begin to describe my feelings right now. I caught word that the letters went out late last week regarding acceptance into the paramedic program. I knew I qualified, so it wasn't that I was expecting a "sorry, you didn't make the cut" letter. So, I eagerly went to my mailbox to retrieve what I thought was going to be my acceptance letter into the paramedic program.

"Thank you for submitting your application to our 2008 Part-Time Paramedic Academy. Unfortunately, the number of qualified applications did not meet the required minimum in order to provide this important course to the public."

My jaw hit the floor as I was reading it. THEY CANCELED THE PART-TIME PROGRAM! Paramedics are retiring from EMS and leaving EMS due to low pay in droves (many are firefighter-paramedics... firefighting pays a lot better than paramedicine alone... better benefits also.), and they canceled it! Why? Not enough people applied to the program... I don't know how many applied, how many were qualified, but right now, all I can think is there is at least one person who won't be a paramedic for at least another 6 months beyond the 2 years she was going to give up to do this.

Something needs to change, and change quickly. Otherwise, there won't be enough paramedics out there to provide the advanced life support that our increasing aging population needs (some of them are the very paramedics retiring).

I had already committed the next 2 years of my life to getting my paramedic license... For me, it wasn't the money. It never was. If I want a lot of money, I know how to make a lot of money. Its the love of medicine, pure and simple.

This really sucks.

Update: I decided to write a letter back urging them to reconsider. More later.