Austin Freidt, a 19-year-old Mocksville firefighter, was born deaf.
He had his first ear surgery at 2 years old, and then got his first cochlear implant on his left ear when he was 3.
In 2012, he got one in his right ear, which allowed him to hear just like anyone else.
He’s wanted to become a firefighter since he was 5 years old. Growing up, however, Austin was always told that wouldn’t be possible.
He played for his high school baseball and football teams, but firefighting was always on his mind so he also joined the junior firefighter program in Advance.
The next step to actually becoming a firefighter was completing fire academy.
According to his mother, Dot Freidt, Austin applied to the Guilford Technical Community College Fire Academy, but was rejected. The reason: NFPA 1582 Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, a standard by the National Fire Protection Association that regulates the physical requirements for firefighters.