HEART OF STEELE

Heroism comes in many forms.

In a community, we often think of our local heroes as firefighters, police officers, EMTs. They’re the people who run toward the things most of us would run from, the things we would rather not see.

For many, the work takes not only a physical toll but an emotional one. Dealing with that takes a special kind of courage, and one Owatonna firefighter showed it at last week’s appreciation event, hosted by the Exchange Club of Owatonna.

Jason Karsten has been a paid, on-call firefighter in Owatonna for 20 years. He works with the MNDOT fire team, traveling to the western U.S. and into Canada.

He’s a full-time MNDOT equipment mechanic. A husband. A father.

And the things he saw while working as a firefighter–“I’ve been on a lot of tough ones,” he said–affected every aspect of his life.

Karsten talked on Tuesday about not wanting to talk to anyone, always feeling on edge, severe mood swings. He knew he needed help, and he reached out to a therapist.

Taking that step is difficult for most people, but even more so for firefighters and other first responders. It’s hard to ask for help when you’re the person people rely on to help them on the worst days of their lives.

But Karsten not only got help for his own issues, he also shared his story in a room full of other firefighters, opening the door for others who are struggling.

In a profession where you’re expected to be a superhero day in and day out, showing that kind of vulnerability takes uncommon courage.

The way Jason Karsten shared from his heart after receiving his Firefighter of the Year award is one of the bravest things I’ve seen someone do. I hope his message hits home with those who need it most.