"A Mighty Girl
When Josephine Smith graduated from the New York City Fire Academy today, she became the first daughter of a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attacks to become an active firefighter herself! The 34-year-old New Yorker, whose motto since her father's death has been “Make him proud," said that “I couldn’t be more honored to follow in my father’s footsteps and carry out his legacy.”
“As long as I can remember, as far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a firefighter. I remember being like these little kids here, playing on the fire truck at my dad’s firehouse. And always telling my dad I was going to work with him one day. Always,” explained Smith. But that dream ended on 9/11; her father, Kevin Smith, was part of the elite Hazmat Co. 1 in Manhattan, which was completed wiped out in the attack. Her father was never accounted for.
Although she grieved for her father -- and her dream of working by his side -- Josephine’s determination never faltered. “After 9/11, I wanted to make sure this was something I was going to fulfill,” she added. “It pushed me even more. I always had a drive to want to be a firefighter, but that — it made me work 10 times harder.” Her hard work has paid off according to FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro: “She’s gone through a tough 18 weeks and proven that she’s every bit as good as her father was. I’m sure she’ll be a great firefighter (and) have a great career.”
Her family has been supportive of her career choice, even after her father’s death. “My mom’s worried, of course. They’re all worried, but they’re extremely proud. They all support me, have my back,” she says. She feels like her father has her back too: “I have a picture of him by my light switch that I see when I leave (home) every day. And a sign above it that says ‘make him proud.’ So seeing that every day, it helps. I was thinking about my dad a lot in the academy. To see me now, he’d be so proud. I know he’d be happy and telling everybody how proud he is of me.”"
Special kinda people
FF's
When Josephine Smith graduated from the New York City Fire Academy today, she became the first daughter of a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attacks to become an active firefighter herself! The 34-year-old New Yorker, whose motto since her father's death has been “Make him proud," said that “I couldn’t be more honored to follow in my father’s footsteps and carry out his legacy.”
“As long as I can remember, as far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a firefighter. I remember being like these little kids here, playing on the fire truck at my dad’s firehouse. And always telling my dad I was going to work with him one day. Always,” explained Smith. But that dream ended on 9/11; her father, Kevin Smith, was part of the elite Hazmat Co. 1 in Manhattan, which was completed wiped out in the attack. Her father was never accounted for.
Although she grieved for her father -- and her dream of working by his side -- Josephine’s determination never faltered. “After 9/11, I wanted to make sure this was something I was going to fulfill,” she added. “It pushed me even more. I always had a drive to want to be a firefighter, but that — it made me work 10 times harder.” Her hard work has paid off according to FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro: “She’s gone through a tough 18 weeks and proven that she’s every bit as good as her father was. I’m sure she’ll be a great firefighter (and) have a great career.”
Her family has been supportive of her career choice, even after her father’s death. “My mom’s worried, of course. They’re all worried, but they’re extremely proud. They all support me, have my back,” she says. She feels like her father has her back too: “I have a picture of him by my light switch that I see when I leave (home) every day. And a sign above it that says ‘make him proud.’ So seeing that every day, it helps. I was thinking about my dad a lot in the academy. To see me now, he’d be so proud. I know he’d be happy and telling everybody how proud he is of me.”"