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GOODWILL MIDDLE TENNESSEE | WINTER 2026
It’s been a long time since I’ve had goals. I enjoy talking about the future now.
Stronger Together: How Support Helped Emily Rebuild Emily Bryant never expected her turning point to happen on a rooftop. More than a dozen feet above the ground during Goodwill’s Construction Training Program, she stood frozen with fear, nail gun in hand. Encouraged by her classmates to keep going, Emily pushed through. That moment — terrified but determined — became a symbol of something much bigger: her decision to rebuild her life. Just months earlier, Emily had hit rock bottom. After struggling with addiction most of her life, she entered rehab following a blackout and a painful question from her sister: Would you want your kids to find you this way? At 33, Emily knew she had to change — for herself and for her four children. After completing treatment, Emily moved into a sober living home and began looking for
work. A simple mistake led her to Goodwill Career Solutions instead of a retail job application. There, she met a career coach who introduced her to Goodwill’s free Construction Training Program. Emily enrolled immediately, unsure of what to expect but ready for something different. Over four weeks, Emily learned to use power tools, read blueprints, frame walls and operate forklifts. As the only woman in her class, she was determined to prove she belonged. With each new skill, her confidence grew. Supported by instructors, classmates and a weekly stipend that helped cover basic expenses, Emily began to see a future she once thought was out of reach. After graduating, Emily applied for multiple jobs using a résumé created with help from Goodwill staff. Within days, she was hired
as a forklift operator at Delta Faucet, earning more than she ever had before. Today, she operates aerial lifts high in the warehouse with ease — grateful she faced her fear of heights during training. Now nine months sober, Emily is reconnecting with her children, saving money and setting goals for the first time in years. She dreams of owning a home, starting a construction business and continuing her education. Most importantly, she’s proud of herself — and her children are proud of her too. Emily’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, second chances and what’s possible when opportunity meets determination. Scan the QR code to read Emily’s full story and see how Goodwill helps people build brighter futures.