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Current mood:  accomplished Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
WAY back when in 1984, at the tender young age of 19, I began my career as an Emergency Telecommunicator. This was back before 911 was even thought of in most communities and back when a Dispatcher did little more than answer a phone. I was going to college pursuing a degree in "business administration" and much to the dismay of my parents, I decided to drop out of college to begin working full time as a Dispatcher for my local police and fire department.
Even though I knew I had found my calling, I still allowed myself to be convinced that I "needed" a degree, so I juggled classes around my work schedule and went back to college on a part time basis. This allowed me to complete my studies and obtain an Associate's Degree - which I've yet to use professionally - in only a mere six years. But hey, at least I got it!
If you've read the "about me" section on my profile, you'll know that my chosen profession has given me the ability to do some things that a lot of people only dream about. In addition to being a Dispatcher, I've worked as a police officer, a firefighter and an EMT during my career. I've gotten to go where news was being made and I've loved every minute of it.
I've pretty-much got a story that will match anything you can come up with when someone asks, "have you ever gotten a call from someone who says/asks _______ (fill in the blank)".
I've been the voice on the phone telling a first-time father how to deliver a baby in the middle of the kitchen floor because they waited too long to go to the hospital when his wife's labor began.
I've been the voice on the phone reassuring a terrified caller who's locked herself in an upstairs closet after hearing someone breaking in downstairs that help is on the way.
I've been on the other end of the phone and heard a dying man whisper the name of the person who just shot him. This led to me being the only Dispatcher I'm aware of who got to testify in a federal murder trial.
I've been the one working the radio when one of my Officers had to take the life of a deranged man who had abducted a neighbor's 8 y.o. child and had a knife to her throat.
I was one of the EMTs who was on the scene that rainy Sunday morning when the Government's raid on the Branch Dividian Compound went horribly, horribly wrong.
I was part of a group of EMTs providing medical services at the Super Bowl the year Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson collaborated during the halftime event to coin the now-infamous term "Wardrobe Malfunction" (yet, I had to wait until the next day to see it on TV).
I had a security clearance which allowed me to access President Bush's Crawford Ranch to do EMS Standby's when he visited during his presidency.
I got to be on the set during the filming of an entire season of MTV's "The Real World".
I had the opportunity to travel to Louisana to assist in setting up EMS Operations inside New Orleans after the City was devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
I've talked people I've never met out of committing suicide.
I've been present at births and deaths of people I've never met.
I estimate that I've probably answered over a million ringing telephones. But to this day, I still sometimes get baffled by what some people will call emergency services for - such as "how long do I cook my Thanksgiving turkey", "can you come and arrest my husband for not helping with the housework" and "I need a cop, but I don't just want any cop...would you send one of the ones in the calendar?". Trust me, I could probably write a book and it would be a best seller! While some of my co-workers may argue this point with you, I do still care about people - even though my calloused and smart-assed remarks (which are becoming more and more frequent these days) may not show it.
I've worked for small agencies where I was the only one on duty and I've worked in bigger cities where I was just one person of a team working in a call center. I've been the lowest grunt and worked my way up to being a supervisor and even a communications center manager.
I love the job. But it's time to move on. On June 30, 2009 I'll be retiring after 25 years of service. Not bad, since the average career of a Professional Dispatcher lasts about seven years before the stress of the job becomes unbearable.
It's kind of a bittersweet feeling. I'm sad that it's all coming to an end, but I'm looking forward to what the future will bring my way. I'm excited and proud, because not only will I be acheiving another one of my life's goals (retirement), I'll be doing it within a week after my 45th birthday. In this day and age, retirement before the age of 65-70 is almost unheard of.
Will I stop working altogether? That's yet to be determined. But one thing's for sure, I'm going to finally get to take the time to have a life and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy my retirement!
Thank you to my family and all my friends (both on the job and off) who have helped me reach this goal. I am eternally grateful.
6:27 AM
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