THOUGH his mother, the sole provider in the household, is now battling stage 4 breast cancer, she is still trying her best to provide for her sons to ensure they have a good education and a stable home. Damell Scott, 25, is now more focused than ever to ensure his dreams become a reality throughout all the personal struggles being experienced at home.

As he walks the campus of the University of Technology, Jamaica with quiet resilience, each step is a testament to a journey marked by struggle, perseverance, and unshakable faith. A civil engineering student from Spanish Town, St Catherine, Scott is one of the 2024/25 recipients of the National Housing Trust’s (NHT) prestigious construction scholarship — a transformative opportunity providing up to $1 million in financial support to students pursuing degrees in Jamaica’s built environment disciplines.

For Scott, despite his uncertainty during the application process, this scholarship is a long-awaited answered prayer.

“At the time I had no idea I would receive the award,” he shared. “I was even hesitant to apply, knowing how competitive it was and feeling like the chances were one in a thousand. I was filled with doubt, but I did, and it turned out to be a true blessing in disguise.”

Raised in a single-parent household with his mother as the sole provider, Scott has witnessed first-hand the sacrifices that shape success. His mother — his rock and his greatest motivator — has carried the weight of her household and children through some of life’s darkest trials, none more devastating than a cancer diagnosis during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The award came at a time when my family and I were going through one of our lowest seasons. In 2020, my mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. The chemotherapy, surgeries, and hospital visits nearly broke us financially. She used her savings and took on debt just to keep things afloat for our home, our schooling, and her survival. Even when things got worse in 2024 with a return diagnosis of stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer, she never gave up. She still hasn’t.”

Through it all, Scott continued to show up. He studied, supported his younger brother, and kept his faith. But the pressure mounted. Loans were taken to fund his tuition, something he desperately tried to avoid.

“Receiving this scholarship lifted an incredible burden,” he said. “It allowed me to fully pay my tuition without worry or fear. Most importantly, it gave me the peace of mind to focus solely on school and relieved the pressure from my mother. For that alone, I am beyond grateful.”

Currently, in his final year of university, Scott reflects on a journey that began not in lecture halls, but in quiet moments of self-doubt. Early in his academic career he often questioned whether he had the strength to push forward.

“There were a few times in my second and third year where I felt like giving up, but it was like a fleeting thought. I kept my eyes on the prize. I still wanted to complete my degree and not waste my mother’s money, and I wanted to make both her and myself proud.”

When asked how he found out about the scholarship, his story again points to the power of community and divine timing.

“I saw the scholarship on a friend’s WhatsApp status — someone from the student committee. He was the one who encouraged me to apply for it despite the challenges I’ve faced with applying for scholarships so far. But, I did. And the rest is history.”

Now at the tail end of his degree, Scott is extremely grateful for the assistance he is receiving and appreciative that NHT believes in his dreams.

“I’ve always believed I could achieve my aspirations as long as I believed in God and did the work, but knowing that there is an external support such as the NHT, who believes in my abilities, gives me that extra push to just do well and being selected as a recipient is a wonderful experience.”

Even with all of the difficulties, Scott continues to be a ray of hope for students who are silently fighting their own battles while trying to pursue a higher education.

“My message — trust God, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Believe in yourself, your dreams and capabilities. The sky is not your limit even if the universe is against you, continue to fight, as the struggles may last for only a season.”

He credits his journey not just to academic commitment, but to unwavering faith and family. Every hardship, every setback has been met with persistence, prayer, and a quiet determination to rise.

“We’re still going through it,” he says of his mother’s ongoing health battle. “My mother’s health has been the root cause of our financial struggles as she is still battling stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer with an 80 per cent aggression rate. This is not a burden that can be overcome by human effort alone. But, when we come out on the other side, I know I’ll have a powerful testimony to share.”

From the strength of a single-parent woman holding down the household despite her struggles, to receiving an unexpected scholarship from NHT, Scott’s tale serves as a reminder that despite tremendous odds, it is possible to construct a future stronger than any foundation by believing in God, purpose, and oneself.