Pride and Pressures of Being First-Generation: How Isabella Jarvis is shaping her future
- Aisha Frazier
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
A bad gyal with a dream – that's Isabella (Bella) Jarvis.
She’s a 25-year-old Caribbean woman from Bridgeport, Connecticut, with New York ties. An area where many people don’t get out, or even graduate college, she’ll tell you – but that’s part of what drives her to be successful.
“I took that statistic and used it as my fuel to be better,” Bella said. “To uplift my community and be a role model.”
Bella is a first-generation college graduate from the illustrious (I'm a bit biased) North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in strategic communication at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Her matriculation through undergrad wasn’t easy. There was a period when she had to return home during the pandemic, go to school online, and really fight financially to complete her degree. She is honored to now be pursuing her master’s and finds gratitude in each day when she reflects on her journey to this point.
“It makes me cry sometimes, because there were times when I didn't think that was going to be possible,” she said. “But praying, working hard, and being dedicated to myself and the journey – I definitely know it's going to pay off in the long run.”
Turning 25 has shifted her perspective on this chapter of life – most importantly, it’s pushed her to start turning her dreams into reality, starting with content creation.
“Hey, you guys, and welcome back to another day in my life vlog,” she begins most of her videos.
Most of her days start around 7 or 8 a.m. She packs her lunch, her book bag, and then catches the bus from her Durham home to Chapel Hill. From there, each video looks a little different because Bella is involved in a lot.
And when I say a lot, I mean I don’t know how she can get it all done!
Along with her Wasserman internship, her job at the UNC-CH Student Union, and her involvement with the Carolina Union Activities Board and the Carolina Association of Black Journalists – all while being a full-time student – Bella still finds time to record her Day in the Life videos and build her brand as a social media personality.
It’s truly astonishing because of her consistency. She posts every day, and if she isn’t able to, she lets her followers know.
Her consistency and commitment have opened doors for brand partnerships with Thayers, Aux Cord Wars, and local restaurants like Wings Over and Chopt. Again, she is literally making her dreams her reality.
She still manages to navigate changing friendships due to distance, love connections, and other factors that come with being in your mid-twenties.
Bella’s mental health can sometimes take a hit with how much she has to manage, but she says she has mentors and supervisors in her corner who remind her to take a day off when she needs it.
“If you need a moment, if you need to take off, take a day off. Take that day off,” she said her supervisors tell her.
Her full plate isn’t the only motivator in her life. Bella is also the oldest sister in her family. She says that’s one of her biggest pressures – but also a huge motivator.
“All I hear is your cousins are watching, you know, make sure you're setting a good example for your cousins,” she said. “Make sure you're setting a good example for your siblings.”
That can be a lot on her, because despite being the oldest and being 25, she says she’s still learning.
Outside of the diamond factory under a lot of pressure, Bella finds ways to take a step back and relax. She really enjoys old Black sitcoms like Living Single, Martin, and reality TV shows like Real Housewives of Potomac.
Her main focus remains: pursuing her passions and working hard now so that she can rest later. She’s been working what feels like her whole life – and she knows she deserves a break.
“I just know I'm investing in myself and seeing where it's going to take me.”
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