For years, Lindsay Goebel worked at the crossroads of life and loss, providing care to cancer patients in their most vulnerable moments. As an oncology nurse at Crossroads Cancer Center in Effingham, she helped patients and families navigate a world of uncertainty, offering both medical expertise and quiet reassurance. Now, in the hallways of Jasper County Schools, her role looks different—but the heart behind it remains the same.

“I spent 14 years in oncology, working with people at the end of their lives,” Lindsay reflects. “Now, I get to work with kids at the beginning of theirs. It was time for a change, and this was the right one.”

That change came in 2021, when Lindsay, a Newton alumna and lifelong Jasper County resident, made the leap from hospital corridors to school hallways. The transition wasn’t just professional—it was personal. “I wanted to be part of something different, something that allowed me to work with kids and families in a new way,” she says.

Lindsay’s journey into nursing was shaped by her mother, a nurse herself, and a deep-rooted belief that helping others is one of life’s greatest callings. Growing up, she saw firsthand the impact that compassionate care could have, and that inspiration never left her. “It just felt right,” she says. “Nursing is a profession where you can make a difference every day.”

Some days, those issues are physical—an illness, an injury, a chronic condition that needs managing. Other days, they are unseen, woven into the fabric of students’ mental health. “There’s more anxiety now than ever before,” Lindsay observes. “COVID changed so much, and we’re still seeing the effects. Teenagers today are dealing with pressures that we never had to face growing up.”

As she navigates the complexities of student health, Lindsay leans on the unsung heroes of the school—its secretaries and counselors. “They are my go-to,” she says. “If I didn’t have them, I couldn’t do my job. They know the students, they understand the families, and they help me reach the people I need to reach.”

Her work extends far beyond the walls of the nurse’s office. She collaborates closely with families, ensuring that students get the care they need both at school and at home. “One of the best things about this community is the support,” she says. “When I call parents, they listen. They trust that I’m looking out for their kids.”

Lindsay’s ties to Jasper County run deep. Raised on a dairy farm, she spent her high school years milking cows before heading off to nursing school. With three sisters—two in education and one also in the medical field—service runs in the family. “We all found our own ways to give back,” she says. “And for me, this is it.”

Four years into her role, she’s found joy in watching students grow and mature, in being a familiar face they can turn to when they need help. 

“You see these kids change from junior high to high school, and it’s incredible,” she says. “They find confidence, they figure things out. And knowing that I get to play even a small part in that—it’s why I love what I do.”

The path from oncology to school nursing may seem like a leap, but for Lindsay, it’s just another chapter in a career built on care, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to helping others. Whether comforting a child with a stomach ache or guiding a teen through a difficult day, her mission remains the same: to heal, to support, and to remind every student that they are seen, valued, and cared for.