Re: 911:: Trainee challenge for

April 22, 2000

In a message dated 00-04-19 03:29:26 EDT, you write:

<< I have been dispatching for 19 years. I am still learning new things and

re-learning old things. Don't ever think once you get away from your trainer

that is it. >

I'm not at all anxious to leave my trainer. She's very very knowledgeable,

experienced, smart and knows how to explain things to you so it makes sense

and sticks. I am excited about going to work every day with her.....and am

kinda sad that we only have 4 or 5 days left -- depending on how I count the

days. It doesn't seem half long enough. I know who my next trainer is and

he's pretty cool -- I sat and listened to him a few months ago and he was

pretty good at explaining things so I know I'll be learning from him as

well......she's just got a lot more experience.

One thing my current trainer has said is that each day brings something new

and you do learn something new each day and she's been right about EVERYTHING

she has said to me the past few weeks so I believe her on that as well.

<. Just enjoy what you do and it will be a wonderful adventure everyday you

walk into work.

>>

I do enjoy what I'm doing. One of my classmates, who quit yesterday, made a

comment to me that made a lot of sense about why she left and why some other

people may have quit. Many of us, including me, were accomplished in another

vocation before coming to dispatch. Suddenly we're not only NON-accomplished

but someone could get hurt by our inability. Its hard to go back to being

totally inexperienced and feel like we're not doing our jobs -- even though

part of our minds say " I'm just still learning " . Like one day this week I

was on a fairly quiet radio -- it was quiet that day. So I pulled out some

manuals, asked my trainer if it was ok with her and studied. We had calls

ringing in and we were backed up but she didn't want me to take calls so I

could stick with learning my radio things. It was hard NOT to pitch in and

do what I know how to do even though I knew the reason why.

So I'm looking forward to this last week with her while at the same time

wanting it to go v e r y s l o w l y so I can gain as much as I can

from her. And also at the same time am looking forward to what the next

person will show me.

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