My name is Brittany Raye Bell, and I’m a proud mom, full-time student, and woman of faith doing her best to rewrite the story I was born into. I became a mom at 21 years old to my daughter Adriana. She changed everything for me. The way I look at life, the choices I make, even the way I fight to keep going when everything feels like it’s falling apart, it all comes back to her. She’s my “why.” Being a mother while going to college isn’t easy. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There have been times I’ve had to choose between gas and groceries. Times I was up at 3 a.m. writing papers after tucking her into bed. Times I cried in the car after class because the weight of it all felt too heavy. But through it all, God kept reminding me: this isn’t just for me. This degree, this dream, this journey, it’s for Adriana, too. I recently graduated from Wayne Community College with my Associate in Arts degree, and I’m now headed to East Carolina University to earn my Bachelor’s in Psychology. I’ll also be minoring in Human Development and Family Science. My goal is to become a licensed counselor who works with families and children who have been through trauma. I’ve lived through pain. I know what it’s like to grow up without stability, to lose parents, to question your worth. But I also know what healing looks like. I know what grace feels like. And I want to help others find that, too. Right now, I working on certification to become a substitute teacher and run a small Christian Etsy shop. I make it work. I don’t always know how, but God always provides. And while money is tight, my heart is full. Adriana sees me pushing through. She sees me making things happen, even when it’s hard. And that, to me, is what being a role model looks like. If I’m blessed to receive the Vickie Drum Memorial Scholarship, it would lift a huge weight off my shoulders. It would allow me to put more focus into my studies and less stress into how we’ll afford next semester. But more than that, it would be a reminder that my story matters. That single mothers like me, doing the work day by day, are seen and supported. Thank you for considering my application. Thank you for believing in women like me. I promise, this investment won’t go to waste.

It’s one thing to be a student. It’s another thing to be a single mom, a full-time student, a working woman, and a vessel for God’s healing, all at the same time. That’s my life, and by the grace of God, I wouldn’t trade it. My name is Brittany Bell. I am a 35-year-old single mother raising a strong and creative daughter named Adriana. I am currently finishing my Associate of Arts degree and preparing to transfer into the Psychology program at East Carolina University. My calling is to become a licensed counselor, not just as a career, but as a ministry. I believe God is using my life and experiences to bring healing to those who are hurting, overlooked, or stuck in cycles they do not understand. Being a single parent has deeply impacted my journey through higher education. It has required sacrifice, patience, and perseverance. I lost my mother in 2021, my biological father in 2017, and the stepfather who helped raise me in 2023. On top of that, I work as an independent contractor, delivering food and running a small online business. I manage my household, help my daughter with school when needed, and attend college classes, all while navigating neurodivergence, including ADHD, executive dysfunction, and anxiety. Life has not been easy, but I know the Lord has not brought me this far just to leave me here. Through every hardship, God has been faithful. I was recently honored with the Dallas Herring Achievement Award, which reminded me that my efforts are not going unnoticed. I have come to understand that education for me is not just about earning a degree. It is about preparation for purpose. It is about gaining the tools to counsel with compassion, speak truth in love, and help others process trauma and find hope again. As a single mother, I have learned how to survive, but more importantly, I’ve learned how to thrive. I speak life into my daughter every day. I send her devotionals, teach her how to talk to God, and show her that our story matters. I want her to grow up knowing that she was raised by a woman who refused to let pain have the final say. And I want other women, especially single mothers, trauma survivors, and young adults, to see what is possible when faith meets discipline. My goal is to open a faith-based, trauma-informed counseling center that serves women and teens in underserved communities. I want to create a space where therapy and spiritual growth walk hand in hand. I want to provide resources for those who cannot afford traditional counseling, and I want to use social media to reach people who may never walk into a clinic but will watch a video or read a post that speaks to their soul. This scholarship would help ease the financial pressure so I can focus more on my studies and my daughter. It would give me the time and space to finish strong and move boldly into the next season God has for me. I am not just earning a degree. I am building a life of impact, a legacy of healing, and a ministry of restoration. I believe God is raising up counselors who are not afraid to deal with the hard things, who will pray and study, who will weep with those who weep and speak truth with wisdom. That is who I am becoming. Thank you for considering me. I am honored to walk this path and excited for what God will do through my obedience.