Hi, I’m Bella, a born and raised Gainesville, FL girl. I’m a full-time student at UF balancing school and real life at the same time. I work two jobs to support myself; some nights at a bar in midtown and I just started my journey during the days as a Registered Behavior Technician, where I help kids with ASD build skills that truly improve their quality of life. It’s a lot, but I’m proud of the work I do and the independence I’ve built for myself.

When I was 15, I started working on a farm doing physical labor and selling my own baked goods with the farm at the farmers market. I saved everything I could so that at 16, I could buy my own car. I ended up with a 2003 Honda CRV that I named Lady. She wasn’t flashy or new, but she was completely mine. Even with her scratches, creaks, and peeling paint, Lady was my shining star amongst any of the fancy, newer cars in the school parking lot. She represented early mornings, sore muscles, and the kind of work ethic my parents raised me with. I was, and still am, so proud of her.

On Valentine’s Day (2/14/2026), after a long shift at the bar, I got off at around 2 AM and walked to where I had parked behind midtown. This is where I found the inside of my car burned to a crisp. Someone made the decision to set Lady on fire. In a matter of minutes, years of effort and independence were taken from me.

I rely on my car to get to both of my jobs and operate independently every day. Losing her has been devastating, not just financially, but emotionally. She was something I sweat for, and earned for myself.

I am not someone who asks for help easily. I’ve worked since I was 15 and have always made every effort to support myself. But right now, replacing my car on my own isn’t realistic or even vaguely possible, and I truly need help. Every dollar raised will go directly toward buying myself a reliable car so I can continue working and moving forward.

If you’re able to donate or even just share this, it would mean more than I can say. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me during a really hard moment. I honestly still can’t wrap my head around what has happened to my car and any support means the world to me.