From MassBay to the Sudbury Firehouse

For Olivia Fraini of Needham, MA, the road to becoming a paramedic started with a very different plan. When she first arrived at MassBay Community College after graduating from Needham High School, she expected to take general education courses and then transfer to a four-year university to study physical therapy. But life at MassBay, and the people she met here, set her on a completely new path.

“I really thought I would be a physical therapist,” Olivia said. “Then I switched to nursing. But while I was waiting for the nursing application process, I decided to try the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program because I had always wanted to be an EMT. I completely fell in love with emergency medicine. That changed everything.”

After completing the EMT program, Olivia entered the Paramedicine program and found a community that supported her at every step. She describes the faculty as the heart of her experience.

“My favorite thing about MassBay was how involved the instructors were,” she added. “They really wanted to work with us as a group and as individuals. They would stay late to help me understand material or practice skills. I felt like they genuinely cared about my success.”

Her classmates became an important part of that support system too. “My peers worked so well together. Everyone wanted everyone to be successful. I struggled with math, and both instructors and classmates sat with me and did extra practice problems. That meant a lot.”

One faculty member who made a lasting impact on her journey was Professor Charles Jenness. “He advocated for me when I was facing challenges during the program,” she said. “He is incredibly smart and personable. He always took the time to explain things clearly, and he would give different examples so everyone could understand.”

During her time at MassBay, Olivia balanced her studies with working sixteen hours a week as an EMT at Cataldo Ambulance and ten hours as a waitress. Even with a full schedule, she excelled, earning a place on the Dean’s List and building confidence in her skills in emergency medicine.

Olivia was recently hired as a full-time paramedic with Sudbury Fire Department and will attend the fire academy in May 2026. She continues to work as needed as a paramedic with Cataldo Ambulance and still waitresses part time simply because she enjoys it. Her long-term goals include becoming a firefighter, eventually working for MedFlight, and returning to school for a bachelor’s degree in emergency management.

When she reflects on her journey, Olivia speaks about MassBay with real appreciation.

“I recommend MassBay to everyone who is thinking about getting into Emergency Medical Services,” she said. “It was truly a great experience. The instructors, the support, the people. MassBay helped me find the path I was meant to be on.”