A picture perfect graduation ceremony Wednesday for the city's newest firefighters, especially for one probationary firefighter fulfilling a life-long goal. NY1's Rocco Vertuccio reports.

Among this latest class of 279 recruits to join the FDNY, a man who always knew he wanted to be firefighter, even as a child. 

24-year-old Tyler Hickey always dreamed of being a firefighter.

His father retired with the FDNY, and there was never any doubt Tyler would follow in his footsteps.  

“I learned what it means to give back to the community and be more than just yourself,” said Tyler Hickey, one of the newsest members of the FDNY. 

Tyler Hickey was only 15-months-old when the Daily News published a photo of him running around after an FDNY memorial service in 1994.

“Whenever I was around anything to with the fire department I’d get so excited I’d take off,” said Hickey.

23 years later, with his family in the audience, Hickey on Wednesday was officially part of another FDNY ceremony, this time to join the ranks of the city’s bravest.

“It feels amazing it was a long process feels like everything is coming into fruition,” said Hickey.

Hickey will now serve the city at a firehouse near Times Square with 18 weeks of rigorous training behind him and some important advice from dad.

“He told me to always stay busy and be silent and just always working,” said Hickey.