Lowell — Kayla Howell wants to be the person answering the phone when the 911 call comes in, prepared and ready to assist, whatever the situation.
The Lowell High School junior, who is in the Kent Career Tech Center’s Criminal Justice program, is taking steps to become trained and get experience, taking advantage of opportunities provided by her instructors and in the community.
What is your dream? “To be an emergency dispatcher.”
Why is this your dream? “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to help people and do good in the world. I feel like dispatch is a good way to be involved and not have to be completely on the scene. Joining (the criminal justice program) really opened my eyes and helped me see that it’s not just about the police officers or firefighters or EMTs; dispatching is a really good route to choose.
“I like how it’s very hands-on; you’re very ‘in the moment’. Just knowing you are helping people is amazing. Sure, I will never get to meet the people, but I will know I had an impact on someone else’s life and I could have saved them.”
How are school and your teachers helping you achieve your dream? Kayla will be able to get certified in dispatch through KCTC. She said her instructors at the Tech Center are encouraging her to do so — “pushing me toward my dream” and also helping her get credits through job shadowing.
‘Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to help people and do good in the world.’
— junior Kayla Howell
“They are my teachers, but they are also so invested and they want me to do well. … Coming in here, I thought (criminal justice) was just police, K-9, firefighting, forensics and investigating. But when they were talking about how we get dispatch certified I was mind-blown. I was so excited.”
What other experiences have you had on your way to achieving your dream? Kayla job-shadowed dispatchers at Ingham County Dispatch: “I loved going there. They were very welcoming and I heard many different calls,” including emergency police and fire calls. Counties provide training for dispatchers, she said, noting that she hopes to go right into the field after high school.
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