My name is Hana Eve Goforth; I want to pursue a career in the medical field because I understand what it feels like to be at your lowest point and to need someone who truly cares. There were times in my life when my own mental health struggles felt overwhelming, and it was hard to see a way forward. In those moments, even the smallest acts of kindness made a difference. Those experiences shaped me, and they are the reason I want to be that person for others through a nursing career. Lane Nicholls Trueblood’s story deeply resonates with me. His life is a powerful reminder of how important access to mental health support is, especially for young people. It is heartbreaking to know that someone who cared so much for others was facing a battle that ultimately led to his loss. His story reflects a reality that far too many people experience struggling silently without the resources, guidance, or support they need. My goal is to attend Tennessee Tech University, where I plan to complete a four-year nursing program and then continue my education for an additional two years to become a nurse practitioner. Nursing will allow me to combine medical knowledge with compassion, giving me the ability to treat both the physical and emotional needs of individuals. As a nurse practitioner, I hope to provide care, advocate for better mental health resources, and ensure that patients feel seen, heard, and valued. My personal experiences have given me both empathy and drive. I know what it feels like to need help, and I know how powerful it is to receive it. There were moments where I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward, but the support I received helped me find strength and healing. That is why I am committed to helping others who may feel lost, unheard, or alone. I want to be there for people during their hardest moments and help guide them toward stability and hope. Lane’s story makes this mission even more meaningful to me. It reminds me that compassion is important, but it must be paired with access to proper care and support systems. I want to honor his memory by being someone who can recognize when a person is struggling and take action to help them in a safe and meaningful way. No one should feel like they have no options or no one to turn to. By turning my own challenges into motivation, I am determined to make a difference. I want to help people at their lowest points and remind them that their lives matter. This scholarship would help me continue my education and move closer to that goal, while also allowing me to carry forward the message that mental health matters and that no one should ever have to struggle alone.

From the time I was little, I always wondered why people assumed doctors were men. Whenever someone talked about going to the doctor, they would say “he” without even thinking. Even as a kid, that never felt fair to me. As I got older, I started learning more about how women are treated in healthcare, and it made me want to be part of the change. I want women to feel understood and respected when they talk about their health, not ignored or brushed off. Something that really motivates me is how much of medical research is based only on men. For years, most studies were done on male bodies, and then the results were used for everyone. But women’s bodies are different. Because of this, a lot of women didn’t get the care they needed. For example, many women had heart attacks without knowing it, because their symptoms were different from men’s and doctors didn’t recognize them. Even things like birth control have so many side effects, but a lot of them are barely studied. Women are often told that what they feel is “normal” or that they are “overreacting,” and that is not right. That is one of the biggest reasons I want to work in healthcare. Women deserve answers and real research, not to be ignored. My goal is to become a healthcare provider who listens, pays attention, and takes women seriously. I want to make sure no one feels embarrassed or dismissed when something feels wrong with their body. I also want to attend and maybe even speak at conferences that focus on women’s health, because the more we learn, the more we can help people. There is still so much that doctors do not know about women’s health, and I want to help change that. For me, going into healthcare is not just a job. It is something I care about deeply. I want little girls to grow up knowing they can be doctors, nurses, researchers, or anything they want in the medical field. I want them to see women leading and making a difference. Women’s health should be taken seriously, and I want to be part of making that happen. This scholarship would help me continue towards that goal. It would support me as I work to be someone who can make healthcare better for women in the future. I am excited to learn, to grow, and to help create real change.

Hi! My name is Hana Eve Goforth and I want to be an healthcare professional! Ever since I was little, I’ve had a hard time not helping people. I’ve always felt a strong pull to step in when someone needs care, whether it’s small or serious. Working as a lifeguard with medical and EMS training has only deepened that instinct. Whenever something happens at work, I’m the first one trying to get off stand to help, because I can’t just watch when someone is in pain or scared. My passion for human health and wellness comes from moments like watching my grandpa before his triple bypass surgery. I was fourteen, and I remember how impersonal and distant some of the doctors and nurses were. Seeing him treated like just another patient instead of a person with a life and story made me realize what kind of healthcare professional I want to be someone who listens, explains, and truly cares. I believe every patient deserves compassion and to feel seen, not just treated. That experience taught me that health care isn’t just about healing the body; it’s about helping people feel safe and understood during the most vulnerable times of their lives. To me, empathy means seeing people as more than their situation. It’s taking the time to understand how they feel and what they’re going through, even when you can’t fully relate. In healthcare, empathy is everything it’s what separates someone who simply treats patients from someone who truly cares for them. I want to become a physician assistant or nurse practitioner because I believe care should be both personal and professional. Every person has an entire life outside of the moment that brings them to a hospital or clinic. They have dreams, families, fears, and stories that matter. When healthcare workers forget that, patients begin to feel invisible. I learned that when I was fourteen, sitting by my grandpa’s hospital bed before his triple bypass surgery. The doctors and nurses were technically doing their jobs, but they barely looked at him or explained what was happening. I saw one of the strongest people in my life look scared and alone, and I realized then that medicine without empathy is incomplete. Now, as a lifeguard with EMS and medical training, I’ve carried that lesson into every emergency I’ve handled. When someone gets hurt or panics in the water, I don’t just think about the injury I think about the person behind it. I talk to them, make eye contact, and remind them they’re safe. Even small actions like that can make a huge difference when someone is frightened or in pain. In the future, I want to approach healthcare through a human-centered lens, where patients are at the heart of every decision. That means listening before acting, explaining procedures in ways people can understand, and remembering that healing isn’t just physical it’s emotional, too. Being human-centered also means being aware of how culture, background, and personal experiences affect each patient’s needs. No two people experience pain or fear the same way, so care should never be one-size-fits-all. Empathy in healthcare is not just about kindness it’s about connection. When patients feel truly seen and supported, they trust their providers and recover better. That’s the kind of professional I want to be the kind who doesn’t just treat symptoms, but helps people feel whole again. My goal is to be the person who steps forward when others hesitate, the one who listens, explains, and reassures. Because in the end, empathy is what reminds us why we chose healthcare in the first place to make people feel safe, understood, and never alone in their fight to heal.