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.”

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.”

“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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Written by Tracy Severson

“We are known as the voice in the darkness; rarely seen but always heard. Keeping it together is in our blood. I don’t care who tells you otherwise this is not a job that everybody can do. We are not secretaries; we are the voice for our callers and our responders. Now more than ever though those voices are sounding weary.”

Written by Renee VanBuskirk. “Not going to lie, there were days I had to really search for gratitude, other days the gratitude flowed like a river.”

“Sexual harassment and discrimination can make women feel powerless. It’s designed to do that. But you can take control of the situation…”

Find the people who want to help and lean on their expertise, and never be afraid to interject your own knowledge into a situation. After all, you’re the only one who can see things from that perspective.

Written by Valerie Minor

“I had found happiness in my life and I was not going to closet that happiness. I talked about her openly at work. It was risky but I had decided the only thing I had to lose was acceptance from people that didn’t accept me for who I truly was.”

When I find myself feeling the frustration building because a particular problem is screaming at me to face it, I will take a mental step back from the situation and just try to find my center again in all the craziness around me. I call this: turning the caps lock off in my head.

“ I am on a road I never thought I could be on, and it is because I ditched that scared little voice in my head and started following my heart’s guidance. “

“When I was thinking about retiring and what I want to do with my life, I realized that I want to serve you. The person in the headset. I want to be for you the person I needed to notice me and gently help me find my own answers.”

“But until someone believes that we suffer too, the “help” isn’t really there. We need support groups where people understand what we do. We need to find those counselors that know what we have gone through, what we continue to go through even after we retire.”

“It’s time we decide to unbrick our wall and feel our feelings as they happen, no more holding it all in. If you have a bad call, lean on your coworkers for support, or even a supervisor. Take the time to breathe after a death and decompress.  There is so much help in this world for you, you must decide to take it.”

“I didn’t let a manager or the “shake it off” mindset deter me from doing what I dreamed of.”

“Be the boots on the ground voices that these committees and boards NEED TO HEAR. Don’t wait for your own seat at the table, bring a folding chair and demand to be heard.”

Joyce Wheeler-Drouant writes, “Often times our biggest talents come from our deepest pain but they don’t have to when you are aware of where you are internally, they could come from our greatest joys.”

“For you, it might be seeking out a great mentor, pastor, therapist, best friend, supervisor, or even your spouse to get the help of picking yourself back up. Stop hiding your struggle!”