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For Rachel Van Beek (’06), a typical day doesn’t come with a fixed schedule. It begins around 7 a.m., with checking equipment, reviewing plans, and preparing for whatever might come next.

From there, the day unfolds with training, workouts, shared meals, and, at any moment, the possibility of responding to an emergency.
It’s a rhythm that requires discipline, adaptability, and trust.

Van Beek has served with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue since 2011 and for the past six years has held the rank of fire captain.

“Day to day, you get your truck ready, make your plan, do your training, and then respond to calls whenever necessary,” she explains.

Firefighting is often portrayed through the lens of emergency response, but for Van Beek, one of the most meaningful parts of the job happens between the calls.
“I spend about a third of my year at work,” she says. “You get to know your crew really well. It’s kind of like another family.”

That sense of camaraderie is built in the everyday moments: cooking meals together, training side by side, and supporting one another through both routine days and high-stakes situations.

It’s also what sustains firefighters through the emotional weight of the job.

“There are things you see that can be hard to process,” Van Beek admits. “But being able to talk through those experiences with your crew—people who understand exactly what you’ve been through—that makes a big difference.”

The bonds formed at the station aren’t incidental; they’re essential. In a profession where trust can be lifesaving, those relationships are foundational.

While the job includes its share of routine, it also brings firefighters face-to-face with some of life’s most difficult moments.

“You see a lot of unfortunate things,” Van Beek says. “And sometimes you miss holidays, weekends, or family events because of the schedule.”

Yet those challenges are inseparable from what makes the work meaningful.

“There’s a sense of pride in being able to help someone when they’re at their lowest—when they really need someone,” she says. “To know you made a difference in that moment—that’s a great feeling.”

Unlike many who pursue firefighting from a young age, Van Beek didn’t grow up with the profession in mind.

“This was never a lifelong dream for me,” she says. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

While in paramedic school, she attended a guest lecture from a member of the fire department who mentioned an upcoming hiring class. With no clear next step in mind, Van Beek decided to apply.

“I thought, why not try it?” she recalls. “And fortunately, it worked out.”

That willingness to step into the unknown shaped the trajectory of her career—and it’s advice she now offers to others.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things,” she says. “You can’t just sit back—you have to get out there and be proactive. It all works out eventually.”

Though firefighting requires highly specialized training, Van Beek credits her Dordt education with laying the groundwork for her career—not through technical skills, but through formation.

“This job is very specific—you learn those skills on the job,” she says. “But Dordt gave me a strong foundation: communication, problem-solving, and understanding how to work with different kinds of people.”

That foundation also includes her faith.

“I think it starts even at the fire station with how you treat the people you work with,” she explains. “And then that carries into the community—how you respond to people, how you care for them, how you leave them.”

At Dordt, Van Beek encountered a broader range of perspectives than she had experienced growing up, which challenged and strengthened her worldview.

“It was a place where I could start to learn how to engage with people who think differently,” she says. “And all of it was grounded in a Christ-centered foundation.”

That perspective continues to shape her approach to her work today—quietly informing how she serves, leads, and interacts with others.

After more than a decade in the field, Van Beek remains focused on steady, meaningful impact.

“My goal is to leave the department and the community better than when I started,” she says.

For Van Beek, that doesn’t mean dramatic change—it means consistency. Showing up well. Supporting her team. Serving the community with care.

“It starts with the people right in front of you,” she says. “Your crew. The calls you respond to. Just doing your part to make things better.”

It’s a simple approach, but one that reflects the quiet, steady leadership that defines her work.

And while Van Beek’s path into firefighting may have been unexpected, it’s clear she’s found where she’s meant to be.