SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A connection through a college scholarship is what one woman said changed her life, and they’re about to award more.
In her pictures, Marissa Johnson might be smiling, happy and most of the time even, sounds upbeat, but she said sometimes the smiles are holding back tears after what happened to her when she was a teenager.
“My aunt called me and said, ‘Don’t freak out, but your house caught on fire,’ I was like, ‘what do you mean don’t freak out? What?!'” said Johnson.
She had nowhere to turn, no one to talk to and nowhere to live until she reached out to someone who became her lifeline.
“I always sit back and think about that because, without her, I don’t know what I would’ve done,” said Johnson.
On the other end was Nettie Carter-Smith.
“We were able to support her, wrap our arms around her financially, emotionally and give her that boost she needed,” said Carter-Smith.
She took Johnson in and helped her through Carter-Smith’s nonprofit called the Bass Smith Connection. It’s a group made up of Carter-Smith, her husband and their friends that awards scholarships and connects minority students to resources they need.
“Just being able to provide an outlet, an opportunity, means so much,” said Carter-Smith.
So far she said they’ve helped pay for college for almost 60 students and they’re getting ready to give out the next round of scholarships at Clark State in November.
Johnson was the first recipient. She got the scholarship in 2015 and several more times before she graduated college with a bachelor’s and master’s degree. She’s now a mental health therapist for students.
“I pretty much grew up hurting alone and not having anyone to talk to or get resources from, so as an adult, I wanna help those kids,” said Johnson.
Now she smiles because she’s truly happy helping others.
“I could never imagine being where I am now without the support and guidance. It would’ve been impossible, so I just feel so humble and grateful and speechless and just happy,” said Johnson.
The Bass Smith Connection gives out two scholarships every year. For more information about the scholarship, follow this link.
