Spelmanite's College Fund

My name is Jayla Bell. I am a sophomore Computer Science Major from Mongtomery, Alabama and I attend Spelman College. My road to Spelman has not been easy, but it has been a time where I have been able to reflect on where I have come from and where I am destined to go. Growing up to a widowed parent of five kids, whom all surviving off of a teacher's salary did not entail for the most luxurious life, but nonetheless, it was a life. The summers, although vacation-less, were full of curiosity and adventure, and the winters were warmed by laughter from those nearest and dearest. But the best part of all was that my mother with all of her struggles, rarely showed how bad things actually were. I carry one particular memory dearly. My mother, while sitting on a stack of hope and creativity came up with a random game. She instructed,"The person who can find the most change around the house will win. Grab everything you can find".  So we hunted and dug, flipping the couches and nooking-out the crannies. After about a half hour race, we had a pot filled with coins, and we headed out for groceries. The transaction was paid in full with a bucket of change, and that night we feasted on the best spaghetti I've ever had. Although now I can see the struggle that went behind that one meal, I am honored at its value.  It is a memory that one could never take for granted, and has had the ability to shape my entire life.  So as we fast foward to now,  there's me, in my somewhat adult stage still "nooking-out the crannies", taking the subtle lessons of my mother who always turned a will into a way. In order for me to return to school upon spring semester I must pay off my balance of $10,600.  Until I can pay this balance off there will be a hold on my account that inhibits me from regestering for classes and eventually I would be asked to leave Spelman. The other $4,400 would go toward helping me begin paying off spring semester.  Over Christmas break I will continue my effort of applying for scholarships and working so that I can ensure that next spring semester can be taken care of,  but as for now my current situation remains. My education is something that I do not take for granted and I work tirelessly to ensure that it will not be taken away from me, but at some point I realized that there is a community amongst me that wants to see young girls like myself who are committed to scholarship, serivce, and sisterhood and that I should not be afraid to call upon it.  So if you feel led to donate please be reassured that it is going towards just that, and that any gift or prayer would be greatly appreciated. Please vist my personal website if you would like to learn more about me and my work:  

It has been a pleasure sharing my story, 
Jayla Bell.