Articles

From setback to service: Single mom finds purpose in emergency dispatch role

Jul 17, 2025

Rebekah Limas (right) celebrates her graduation from the Public Safety Telecommunicator Program at Houston Community College with her nephew, Rafael A. Limas, a graduate of HCC’s Basic Fire Protection program.

When Rebekah Limas attended her nephew’s graduation from the Public Safety Institute Center of Excellence Basic Fire Protection program at Houston Community College (HCC), she was there to celebrate his achievement — but she left with something more: a flyer that would change her life.

A single mother of four from east Houston, Limas had recently lost two jobs after tearing her meniscus, an injury that made standing and working on her feet impossible. “I was at a crossroads,” she said. “I didn’t know what came next.”

At the end of the ceremony, Limas picked up a flyer promoting HCC’s Public Safety Telecommunicator Program. “I had never thought of becoming a dispatcher,” she said. “But reading that flyer, I realized — I could do this.”

Still, the idea of going back to school was daunting. “I questioned myself,” she said. “It felt like maybe it was too late or too complicated. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was an opportunity I needed to try.”

After completing the required physical and psychological evaluations, and background checks, she enrolled in the 10-week intensive program. Limas excelled in the classroom, graduating with straight A’s and a renewed sense of purpose.

She said she was drawn to the field because she’s always wanted to help people. “We’re the ones who answer the call — we’re the first responders,” Limas said. “The officer or paramedic only knows what you tell them. You have to paint the picture so they can prepare. That’s a responsibility I take seriously.”

Balancing school, work and parenting wasn’t easy. Her children, ages 12 to 22, became her biggest supporters. “I had to leave the house by 7:10 a.m. every day,” she said. “We had a family talk — just give me these 10 weeks. I want more for us.”

Limas credits constant communication with her kids as the key to managing work-life-school balance.

“I kept them in the loop every step of the way,” she said. “I showed them my grades, shared what I was learning. I wanted them to see that going back to school is possible — even when life is hard.”

Within two months of graduating, Limas was hired by the Galena Park Police Department, where she now dispatches for police, fire and EMS. On the job, she’s learning even more — including how to handle non-emergency calls, walk-ins, citations and entering warrants.

“It’s a lot more than I expected,” she said. “But I like it because it keeps me busy and constantly learning.”

The job, just 10 minutes from her home, offers benefits she never had before — including health insurance, PTO, and a pension.

“I used to drive over an hour to Spring for Amazon. Now I’m closer, and I feel valued,” she said.

Looking back, Limas credits her nephew’s graduation for sparking her career change.

“Maybe one day, I’ll be the one dispatching him on a call,” she said. “This isn’t just a job — it’s the start of a career.”

For Limas, the journey from struggle to stability has been deeply personal.

“My kids got to see me push through, and now they know — it’s never too late to go back to school.”