(Leitchfield, KY) – The The K105 – State Farm First Responder of the Week is Grayson Co. EMT Darrian Cockriel. Darrian was nominated by her husband, Tyler, who said he is proud of his wife’s passion to serve her community as a first responder.
Darrian (24) said she and Tyler both pursued EMT classes right after graduating high school but didn’t complete the testing process until several years later. She was in college pursuing other avenues in the medical field, but feeling unfulfilled with those career options when she said she had started praying that God show her what path she needed to pursue. Cockriel said it was during this season of seeking that she witnessed a car accident and she immediately jumped into action, and realized that her prayer was answered. She recommitted to EMT school and completed the course. She accepted a position for GC EMS in February 2018.
The young couple talked openly about the frustrations of trying to figure out what career path to pursue, and how jovial life becomes when you finally find the path that suits you. Tyler, who was recently hired as a business teacher at Grayson Co. High School, and is the Assistant Soccer Coach, said he understood the pressure his wife was under to find her path, and is so proud of how she has stepped into the role and has not looked back.
Tyler told of a story that the two had witnessed an accident just weeks after they had finished their EMT classes several years prior and how he – having the same training – watched Darrian jump into action but found himself unsure how to proceed. He said it’s truly a call on a person’s life to be a first responder – one he claims he doesn’t have but his wife is an exemplar of.
Darrian said her advice to others who have the same call to be a first responder is “…to listen to your instincts and take action when you realize you’re called.”