Teja Jeleniauskas – Volunteer Firefighter
Nuclear Engineer. Glen Ellyn Native. Volunteer Firefighter.
Teja Jeleniauskas grew up in Glen Ellyn—she’s lived here since she was five years old. After graduating with a degree in nuclear engineering, she moved back home. From here, she works in engineering consulting and is currently helping to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. But that isn’t all she’s been up to the past few years.
When Clare Doran, a volunteer firefighter and the mother of one of Teja’s high school friends, heard Teja was living back in town, she reached out to see if Teja had any interest in volunteering for the fire company. Teja, who originally started her education in pre-med and in the past had looked into being a paramedic, was intrigued.
Teja headed to one of the weekly open house drill sessions to check it out. At the time, the firefighter recruits were doing ladder training—throwing ladders onto simulated walls. Teja walked around, asked questions, and was happy to feel immediately welcomed and at ease. She decided to apply.
“This experience has made me realize that I can do more than I ever thought I could.”
She trained for a year and a half, and it was quite the challenge—especially during the confidence course training, which involves wearing an airpack and face mask and working your way through an obstacle course. “It was really a mental game,” says Teja. “You get comfortable wearing gear, putting yourself in tight places. You get stuck, and you have to keep yourself calm and make a plan. It was exhausting, but so fun.”
Throughout training, she learned so much. “I gained so much respect for people who do this full time,” says Teja. She describes training on how to get a hydrant set up to get water pumping to a house—and the time limit required. “The company teaches you how to do everything well—things I had never thought of. They show you barriers—if these tools were gone, what would you do. I didn’t realize there was that short of a timeframe to get it all up and running.”
Teja completed training this past spring—and she’s so glad she did. “I’ve grown as a person from when I started,” says Teja. “I’ve become more social and outgoing because of meeting and being welcomed by people of all different backgrounds. I’ve learned that I have more skills and strength and am capable of a lot more things than I thought I was. And it’s a great way to give back to the community.”
You may have seen Teja during the 4th of July parade—she was the one driving the Village’s biggest fire truck. The morning of the parade, her Lieutenant offered her the opportunity to drive the ladder truck (Tower 62). “When we would stop, I could hear moms pointing to their daughters, saying, ‘Look there is a girl firefighter driving the truck’,” says Teja. It’s an experience she won’t forget—and neither will many of the youngest inspired spectators.
“The company teaches you how to do everything well. It’s a great way to give back to the community.”
Teja’s top three reasons to volunteer:
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Build confidence. Prior to training, Teja never would have imagined being able to search and rescue a full grown adult. “You can do more than you think— you just have to not doubt yourself,” says Teja.
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Grow your communication skills. “I came into this group and didn’t fit the typical stereotype. Even so, I got along with everyone—they made me comfortable, and so I am now more outgoing in life in general,” says Teja.
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It’s rewarding to give back. “We get to show up and assess what is wrong and reassure people when they are scared—or to make an even bigger impact during an emergency,” says Teja. “The community is so grateful.”
