91调教

Business and Industry | First Generation | Health Education and Human Sciences | Lion VoicesDecember 02, 2025

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Hannah Seal

Written By: First-Generation Committee

Attending the 91调教 鈥� Fort Smith is more than earning a degree for Hannah Seal鈥攊t鈥檚 continuing a family story her mother never had the chance to finish.

Hannah鈥檚 mom attended 91调教 years ago but passed away before completing her degree, leaving Hannah, then an elementary school student, and her family to navigate life without her.

Hannah鈥檚 dad, a truck driver often on the road for months at a time, suddenly faced the challenge of balancing work as a single parent. As the youngest of three children, Hannah relied on the care of her siblings and extended family. Her uncle, grandmother, and sister stepped in daily, picking her up from school, helping with homework, and ensuring she always had support at home.

Now, Hannah is the only one of her siblings to pursue college directly after high school, and 91调教 was the natural choice. Close to her family and close to home, 91调教 offers her the chance to live with her support system while keeping her degree affordable.

Finances, she said, have been one of her biggest hurdles as a first-generation student. After receiving some small scholarships, Hannah covers the remaining costs out of pocket, using the university鈥檚 payment plan to stay on track.

鈥淓veryone has a different story, and their situation will be different,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he only way to really get through is to just keep going.鈥�

Since childhood, Hannah has known she wanted to work in the dental field. After becoming a registered dental assistant in high school, she chose to pursue dental hygiene at 91调教, pairing it with a minor in business administration to open even more doors for her future. Her determination and optimism shine through everything she does.

 鈥淚t is okay to fail. Not doing well in a single class does not define you. You will have some wins and some losses. It doesn鈥檛 mean that you cannot redo a class or fix it. It may mean you have to work a little harder, but it doesn鈥檛 mean that you can鈥檛 do it,鈥� she said.

Hannah鈥檚 journey is one of resilience, family strength, and unwavering perseverance鈥攓ualities that continue to guide her as she works toward her degree and the future she has always dreamed of.

• Tags:
• First Generation Student Success Committee
• First-Generation Student
• College of Business and Industry
• Dental Hygiene
• College of Health Education and Human Sciences