Closing the Distance: Accepting Who I Am in the World of Dispatching
Written by Emily Smith
“I realized that the person I am is forever, and my hearing aids are just as much a part of me as being a dispatcher is.”
Take a Chance on Yourself: How a Scholarship to a Conference Changed Me, and How It Can Change You Too
Written by Hannah Sande
“… I knew that I would be going back a different person. The things I learned in this course, from the opportunity I received as a Firework Scholarship recipient, have forever changed who I was as a friend, a telecommunicator, and a wife.”
Empowering Women: Thriving in Spite of Imposter Syndrome
Written by Andrea King-Smith
“Imposter Syndrome can be a significant barrier to personal and professional growth, but it is a common experience that can be overcome.”
Let’s Talk About It
Written by Keely Heyman
“There are more and more of us at the front lines who are standing at the tops of the mountains shouting that we need to do better, we need to have better, and it is starting to work. The key is not to remain silent about the experiences. Speak up when it doesn’t feel right. Walk away when it begins to drain your soul.”
Are You Ready to be Reclassified?
Written by Laurie Flaherty, 911der Woman Board Member
“More than 70% of the nation’s 90,000 Telecommunicators are female. How do I know that? The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Standard Occupational Classification (BLS SOC) system. I believe in my heart and soul that every one of them should be classified as more than “clerical.””
2022 Recipient of NENA's Wendy Day Memorial Scholarship
Written by Sheila Rodriguez
“I’ve always wanted to move up within my agency, that was always the goal, but now there are more specific reasons as to why I want to move up. One of those reasons is to advocate for my center and those who work within it and for dispatchers across the United States.”
The Beauty of It
Written by Keely Heyman
“We see with our ears and our hearts. We are who they call when they don’t know what else to do, and there is beauty in that.”
From Embittered to Empowered
Written by Shannon Polito, ENP
“I look back at the journey I have gone through to go from an angry stereotype to an incredibly motivated dispatcher who jumps at every opportunity to bring knowledge and guidance to any who seek it, whether it be newbies or those who have made this their lifelong career.”
Taming the Imposter Syndrome Beast
Written by Jennifer Kirkland, ENP, CPE, RPL
“We are high achievers who feel pressure to constantly achieve more and sometimes feel obligated to work harder than our male counterparts to achieve the same results. We feel compelled to be “likeable” because if we are not, we are labeled as “bitches” or worse. We have a higher tendency to be people-pleasers and to compare ourselves to others and come up as lacking (in our perceptions). All this leads to conditions ripe for imposter syndrome—even when we have the skills and credentials to back us up.”
Inspiration From a Virtual Conference
Written by Kris Nichols, ENP
“I have always been goal-oriented, constantly looking for the next thing to accomplish. After becoming a CTO in 2019, I was looking for my next big project. I struggled a little with that because I just did not know what was next for me in the context of Public Safety.”
When Video to 911 Supports Mental Health
Written by Roxy VanGundy, ENP, RPL
“…911 didn’t change. It grew. But the core of what we do and who we are as 911 didn’t change that much at all. It got better. Adding video to our service offerings has only made us better.”
Our Best Boundaries
Written by Hannah Tucker
“The pressure of my job was seeping into my personal life, and I was shutting out the people I cared about. I hardly ate, couldn’t sleep well, and everywhere I existed was an unorganized mess. I thought getting out would just magically make everything better, but as it turns out it wasn’t just my work environment or career choice causing so many problems, it was my lack of boundaries.”
I Was In An Abusive Relationship…With My Employer
Written by Keely Heyman
“But yet I still returned, because I truly believed that what I did, who I was, and my experiences did not matter, and no one would care about the work I did or about me as a human, because I was, after all, JUST a dispatcher. .”
The Calls That Shape Us
Written by Phyllis Leonard
“… I found out that my sister had taken her own life without warning and was found in a hotel room near where she worked. All I could think about was how I talked a complete stranger out of taking their life and my sister never gave me the opportunity to help her. “
The Firework Scholarship: A Life-Changing Experience
Written by Juliet Brown
“I never imagined that one application and essay could open so many doors. I’ve dreamt of speaking at a national conference, but I didn’t think it would happen within a year of making it one of my goals. I’m excited and blessed to be given the opportunity to shine. Applying for the Firework Scholarship was a true example of how one decision can change your entire life.”
More Than Gold - When the Thin Gold Line Goes to the Olympics
Written by Tracy Ertl
“No one was fighting. Everyone was gathered from around the World and for me, it represented the best of what humanity is capable of with a common goal.”
How Do Relationships Factor Into Psychological Wellness for 911 Telecommunicators?
“This research has brought to light that while there are definitely some common heavy stressors in the role of an emergency telecommunicator, the weight of these stressors may vary, depending on the types of relationships that are most prominent in our personal lives.”
Random Thoughts From an Old-Timer
By Ruth Lagerquist
“I have also learned my own way to handle the vicarious trauma that our job brings, as well as job stresses, and we all have stress, even if we are only waiting for a call to come in.”
Two Years Later, Reflections on Receiving the Wendy Day Scholarship
By Megan Hamilton
“I went home after that week and I sobbed because I knew I was coming home a different person. I was ready and fired up to balance everything on my plate and get myself out there.”
Unpopular Opinion: You Can Be Professional Without Giving Up Your Personality
By Hannah Tucker
“I started my career in 911 at barely 19 years old. I was seen as too young to be capable or competent by some on both sides of the radio and knew from my very first day that I was going to have to prove myself. I started on a radio with a quiet voice but quickly learned that I needed to be louder and a bit more assertive; however, I missed the correlation between assertive and mean.”