When Alabama State Trooper J.T. Brown pulled 20-year-old Abbie Rutledge over and stopped her for speeding, she had no idea it might be one of the best things to have ever happened to her!
Though they are essential for public safety, speeding stops rarely turn out well for the offending party. Even if the incident doesn't result in a citation, fine, or a trip to court, it does cause a world of anxiety. That's what Abbie felt when she saw the swirling lights behind her one morning as she made her way to work.
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Abbie Told The Officer That She Was Sorry
When approached by Trooper Brown, Abbie told the officer that she was sorry and didn't have the money for a ticket because she was "stuck in a dead-end job." Even though that might have sounded like just another excuse, the state trooper responded, "How about we talk about it then?"
That's precisely what the two did. Abbie told CBS News that she and Trooper Brown discussed career paths and options for 10 to 15 minutes, ultimately concluding that nursing would be a great fit for Abbie.
On that August day in 2022, J.T. Brown left Abbie with a traffic warning and a challenge. On Abbie's citation, Trooper Brown wrote, "Promise me you'll go into scrub or nursing school & slow down, and I won't give you a ticket."
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Two Years After He Stopped Her For Speeding, She Graduated
Though he might have hoped Abbie would follow through, J.T. never thought their road-side discussion would lead to a significant change in the young girl's life. So, he was amazed and proud to be invited to Abbie's graduation. Two years after he stopped her for speeding, Abbie has a career she loves. She is a surgical technician at the University of Alabama Hospital. And that speeding stop, though initially anxiety-producing, was anything but ordinary!
We often forget how meaningful our everyday conversations can be and the impact our words can have on others. It isn't only educators who impact young lives, and J.T. Brown made a big impact on Abbie Rutledge's life with his well-chosen advice.
As for Trooper Brown, Abbie's response touched him as well. He shared with CBS's Steve Hartman, "She made my entire career worth it. She did."
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"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had," Romans 15:5
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h/t: Good News Network
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS Evening News