AW80W

Around the World with 80 Women: Hannah’s Story (Arkansas, USA)

Speaking from the heart

Image Supplied by Hannah

Learn more about Hannah E Mitchell’s business Heart Health Coaches, or connect with her on Instagram and Pinterest where she shares sustainable health tips. This article is part of the AW80W series — read the introduction here.

When I connect with Hannah via a video call, she is composed and confident despite the 7 a.m. start. At this moment, it’s difficult to believe this accomplished young woman was ever a timid teenager who doubted her abilities and felt unsure where her life would take her:

“When I was younger, I did not dream big at all. I didn’t have a lot of confidence to think I had choices. Higher roles were not in my mind as I didn’t think I could do them. For example, I never felt I could be a physician even though I was interested in entering the medical field.”

For Hannah, gaining access to education is not something she would ever take for granted. Growing up in a small town in Arkansas — a predominantly Christian state — Hannah acknowledges that formal study is “not highly recommended in more conservative religious communities.”

However, she appreciates how fortunate she was to have a forward-thinking family who saw the value of education: “I’m…