When I told him I worked at Alliance Traffic, he smirked. “Like… signs and cones and stuff?” I nodded. “Yeah, I’m on the field team.” He laughed. “That’s cute.”
He had no idea I’ve worked night shifts in freezing rain, hauled barricades twice my size, and studied traffic safety manuals cover to cover. I didn’t correct him—until he kept joking about “pretty faces in vests.”
So I told him something I never share on a first date: I got into traffic work after a serious crash in a poorly marked construction zone. It nearly cost me my mobility. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to keep roads safer for others.
His whole demeanor shifted. He listened. Asked questions. Apologized.
We talked for hours after that—about life, pressure, purpose. Turned out he wasn’t sure he liked the career path he was on either.
I don’t know if I’ll see him again. But that night reminded me that people often judge what they don’t understand. And that sharing your story, even when it’s hard, can flip the script.
So if you’ve ever been underestimated or judged for your work—stand tall. Your story matters. And the world needs more people who turn pain into purpose.
