Matthew D’Angelo, 12, wants to be a firefighter one day, so the FDNY Fire and Life Safety High School table at the Staten Island high school fair caught his eye.
“I’m just here looking at schools and I’m a little interested in the FDNY one because I’d get to be a firefighter,” Matthew said. “I get to help other people out, like they could teach me how to do that.”
The FDNY Fire and Life Safety High School is in Brooklyn so Matthew would have nearly a two-hour commute each way every day if he decides to go there. Matthew’s mother, Maryann D’Angelo, wasn’t sure how she felt about the commute, but Matthew said it wouldn’t be that bad. “It’ll be fine, I’ll just take the ferry there and back,” he said.
Matthew is also looking at CSI High School for International Studies and Staten Island Technical School, a specialized school, as well as two private schools on Staten Island, Monsignor Farrell and St. Joseph’s by the Sea.
His top two choices are the FDNY Fire and Life Safety High School and CSI High School. Matthew’s mother didn’t know about the FDNY Fire and Life Safety High School until she came to the fair. “I think it’s a good process. This way he can explore everything,” she said. “Believe me, I’d rather be home but you know what, as long as it’s good for him, I’ll be here.”
Kayle Schnell is a student at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.