Our life experiences as children or teenagers can either build or destroy us. And here we are not discussing all the joyous moments since, evidently, they will have a positive impact on our lives. But when horrible things happen to you, how you come out of it will determine the rest of your life. Not sure what I’m talking about? This heartwarming story will put things more into perspective.
Lieutenant Jim Foster met Tiffany Hall when he arrested her about five years ago on drug charges, ABC7 reports. But it wasn’t a simple act of filling in the paperwork and calling it a day. No. Jim Foster used his time with Hall, who was a drug addict, to inspire her to find a new purpose in life. Essentially, Tiffany decided to turn her life around, and a lot of it was thanks to Foster. She said at a press conference last week, where she reunited with the officer, “He would encourage me all the time.”
She continued, saying: “He would also tell me, ‘Tiffany, you can do better than this. Tiffany, why don’t you try to go to school. Tiffany, why don’t you stop?’”. So, what was it about Tiffany that made Hall want to help her out? According to ABC News, it was her funny and friendly personality that stuck out to him during their encounters. He noted, “She was a unique personality. Lots of humor. She had a great story to tell, and I noticed she had a tough exterior but a soft interior.”
Hall said at a news conference at the Long Beach Police Department headquarters, “I want to thank Lt. Jim Foster for his respect and his compassion and the empathy that he showed to me and anyone he came in contact with.” The conference took place in California.
Hall knew she had to see the police officer who essentially changed her life. She showed up at this conference, handing him an invitation. It was an invitation to her graduation. Foster took the invitation and said the most heartwarming words, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He also noted that success stories like Hall’s are why he loves being a police officer.
He said, “The biggest joy of my professional career is, from time to time, having contact with people who have found their way out of horrible circumstances and into life’s success, things that a lot of us just take for granted for people who have a much rougher life story.” It truly is amazing for people to have careers that go beyond paying their bills. It’s the best feeling to have a career that makes other people feel good and changes their lives.
Hall hopes to become a social worker in order to help others who were in her position get out of their rut and make it in life. Essentially, she wants to pay it forward. She is now completely focused and determined to succeed in her future. She tells ABC News: “I tell myself every day, ‘Don’t look back behind because there’s nothing back there. You gotta keep looking forward.”
