09/09/2026
A little bit of the “back story” behind Bri Happy!
"I left Virginia for Atlanta right out of high school. I had $500 and a suitcase. I knew one person. When I got there, it was not the situation I was expecting. I found myself at a crossroads. I stuck it out. I found a job as a server and got certified as a make-up artist. I spent 10 years there.
"I never planned on being a mom. After I found out I was pregnant, I moved back to Virginia. When you become a mom, you have to face a lot of things you could get away with ignoring your whole life. I didn’t have an ideal childhood. My father is incarcerated. Some of my family members have struggled with addiction. I was raised by my grandparents.
"Your kid is going to see what you do. Kids absorb everything. You’re their first role model. When it’s hard, you’ve got to keep going. Because they’re watching you.
"When someone told me to go back to school, I was like, ‘Get real.’ I didn’t think I was going to be able to pull this off. I started and just didn’t give up. It’s given me a lot more confidence and a sense of belonging.
"Being a single parent is a struggle. Some people won’t see your dream or vision, but it’s not theirs to see. You’ve got to find people who do. You’ve got to surround yourself with people who do. Once you come to Germanna, you will find someone who will support you. You have no idea how many people will root for you, people who don’t even know you.
"You might not get there on a straight road. Success is not like that. It’s up and down and you might go backwards a few times. But eventually, you get there."
— Kaitlyn Lamb, Germanna Business Student