For me, it was working as a corrections officer in Georgia and seeing how private prisons are run first hand. I have entirely too many experiences and learned ways to do things that make departments where I live now look at me in horror and disbelief.
Before anyone asks “why didn't you report it”, it wouldn't have accomplished anything other than stopping me from feeding my family. That was the norm there. State monitor knew what was going on and kept silent. Corporate willfully ignored (one of the big companies that starts with a C) as per their standard operations. Labor department ignored complaints, and DOC never bothered to investigate anything.