Inspiring Graduation Ceremony at FDNY-Focused High School

A graduating student from an FDNY-centered high school in Brooklyn shared how witnessing a friend save her father’s life with CPR motivated her to pursue a career as a firefighter. During the graduation ceremony on Friday, Desiree Ruiz, 17, recounted the life-saving incident that took place in April 2023 when her father, Wilfredo, suddenly collapsed due to cardiac arrest.

Desiree’s friend, then a senior at the same school, quickly began administering chest compressions, which she credits as pivotal in saving her father’s life. “He saw my father in cardiac arrest and acted immediately,” Desiree said. “Without oxygen for just 10 minutes, there’s a risk of brain damage. He stepped in at the right moment, which made a huge impact on me.”

Her experience led her to receive a prestigious EMS scholarship and the American Federation of School Administration Leadership Award. She plans to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) before pursuing certification as a paramedic.

During the ceremony, Mia Luna, the salutatorian, described the class as a close-knit group of future FDNY members. “Our school, known as Captain Vernon A. Richard High School in honor of a firefighter killed on 9/11, fostered a strong family environment where we look out for one another,” she said.