ACADEMIES GIVE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CAREER GOALS.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

A bout with cancer as a newborn left Amber Hirsch with legs that need braces, but the 17-year-old Van Nuys High School senior has learned she can do things she never thought possible.

Hirsch was one of 230 graduates Saturday of five high-school-to-career academies at Los Angeles Valley College. Over an eight-week period of six-hour Saturday classes, the students, who came from six Los Angeles Unified School District high schools, learned skills in law enforcement, firefighting, biotechnology and bioinformatics.

Hirsch, who graduated from the advanced fire academy, said her disability made it hard for her to run, particularly with a fire hose. Teammates praised her ability to handle a ladder, however.

``But I completed it,'' she said, holding her certificate and smiling. ``That's all that mattered to me. I tried my best.''

``She is so proud of being a part of this,'' said Ralph Rodriguez, apparatus operator for the Los Angeles Fire Department and the creator of the first fire academy. ``She walks with all of the pride in the world.''

As their proud parents watched and videotaped the ceremony and younger siblings gawked in awe, the students also demonstrated what they learned. Graduates of the justice academy subdued a heavily padded ``car thief'' and pretended to handcuff him, and contained a group of ``protesters'' who became unruly.

Fire academy graduates demonstrated everything from unloading fire hoses to ``throwing'' ladders to quickly donning full firefighting gear, including face masks and oxygen tanks.

``We're very proud of these individuals, and we believe they have a future in the fire service or anywhere they would like,'' Rodriguez told the crowd.

But the programs aren't just about getting to play with cool equipment. Instructors in both the justice and two fire academies stress the importance of academics and good citizenship at every point, helping the students, some as young as ninth-graders, understand the connection between their high school studies and a future career in public service, said John Burke, director of school-to-career programs at LAVC.

``It gives them an understanding of what it really takes to have a career in law enforcement,'' said Lt. Brian Smith of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. ``It takes someone with a strong academic background and strong character to be involved in a job like that.''

Even if the students don't go into law enforcement or firefighting, they learn vital skills that will help them in other careers, such as the ability to handle a job interview and work as a team.

Laura Tapia, 15, of Van Nuys said she's considering a career as a firefighter after graduating from the advanced fire academy.

``Knowing that you're risking your life to save someone else and that you could save someone's life, that's really nice,'' she said softly.

LAUSD board President Caprice Young, who served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony, said the programs are a natural fit with the school district.

``You can't just lock kids up for 13 years and then spring them out on society,'' Young said. ``The schools have to be part of the community.''

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Advanced fire academy graduate Amber Hirsch shakes hands with firefighters during graduation ceremonies Saturday.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer