I'm training a new person at work. Training is difficult and can seem to slow the clock down sometimes. It's also a chance to reflect on my training and how intimidated I was at being a dispatcher in the beginning. I managed restaurants for much of my life and I was pretty good at it. I didn't like it so much after a few years but I was good at it. In my mid 30's I found dispatch and it just felt right. I don't think most people understand what a 911 and police dispatcher does in the course of a day at work and frankly we make it look easy. But I will never forget my days of training; being terrified of answering that first call; being incredibly intimidated by having to talk over the police radio; and knowing that a 911 call was coming at any moment and I might be the one to make a difference between life and death on the other end of that call. It was all so daunting but I loved it. I wanted to reach the point where I was ready to put those weights on my shoulders and carry someone through disaster. As difficult as it was to absorb the impossible amount of knowledge and the endlessly evolving skills needed, I knew I had found what I should have been doing my whole life. After working a decade in the wrong places it's amazing to know I'm at the right one. Now despite the difficulties in training, it's great to see that realization in someone else that this is where they belong and the determination to master the mountain of skills and knowledge to join our ranks. I love my job!
Ray
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