Basic Trope: A person takes up a certain job because they were saved by someone who had it.
- Straight: Bob was rescued by a firefighter named Alice as a boy, so he becomes a firefighter when he grows up.
- Exaggerated: Any person who has a particular job wanted it because of being saved by someone who had it.
- Downplayed: Bob was rescued by firefighter Alice as a boy, so he becomes a part-time firehouse volunteer.
- Justified:
- Bob wants to give back.
- Bob doesn't want to feel helpless again, and associates being a firefighter with being able to save the day.
- Inverted: Alice the firefighter was rescued by a little boy named Bob, so she retires from her job.
- Subverted: Bob was saved by firefighter Alice as a boy and wanted to become a firefighter himself...but then he fails the medical exam and has to give up on it.
- Double Subverted: ...However, while undergoing medical examination, one of the doctors, Charlie, was particularly helpful to him and he decides he'll go into medicine instead.
- Parodied: Bob is a Walking Disaster Area and his career aspirations change week to week or even day to day depending on the job of the person who helped him last.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted:
- Bob doesn't get rescued.
- Alice is not a firefighter.
- Enforced: The executives think having a backstory like this will make the story flow better.
- Lampshaded: "How did you become a firefighter so fast, Bob? Did someone make you do it?"
- Invoked: ???
- Exploited: ???
- Defied:
- Little Bob expected Alice to rescue him, but she would rather he rescue himself or not rescue him at all.
- Adult Bob becomes hostile towards Alice the firefighter and decides to avoid firefighting at all costs.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
- Played for drama: Bob gets the job and discovers he isn't suited for it/does not like it. He does not want to leave, however, because he feels that'll disappoint his rescuer.
