Who is Shelly Bellamy and how did we get to The Level Up Concern? Well we are going to travel back to December 27, 2015, when my life took a drastic turn. It was that day that my beloved husband passed away from a heart attack. You may have heard the term “test to testimony” well that moment was my test. The suddenness of this loss of course was an emotionally devastating event, I not only lost my husband, but I also lost my entire life. All of our hopes and dreams of a future life together died in that moment. I had no idea who I was or who I might become. I felt suddenly invisible in a very real and upsetting way, I was suddenly feeling adrift in a world that I used to think was stable.
Initially, I thought I wanted to fill the space with a new companion, I was afraid to move forward on my own. Although I married late in life and had been single for quite some time, I was unsure of myself and everything around. Change was happening quickly around me and I had no idea how to navigate within this new existence. But then I met a new friend who gave my comfort in meeting new friends. I was fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends that pushed me forward as well. As I moved through the process of grieving I was fortunate to be able to utilize tools such as grief counseling, therapy, and a business coach.
Although these tools are not without cost I am also fortunate that I have worked at an international law firm for 15 years at that time and was able to use services to assist me in my move forward. Although it was difficult I realized that attempting to replace my husband’s space was not the way to go.
As a young woman I thought my value would be found in being “chosen” having a husband and family to validate my existence. I did not see value in myself outside of being connected to a man. In the late 1970s early 1980s although Black women were making strides representation was minimal. Although my mother ran a successful business, and I was encouraged by a loving uncle who encouraged my growth imagining myself as a woman who was something bigger than a wife and mother was not within my view of myself. I went to college and quit after an advisor informed me that I should accept being mediocre. At that time I dreamed of graduating with honors but didn’t have the confidence enough to try but I knew I could work, earn a living, and make a way for myself. I convinced myself that college was not needed. This began a long trend of conceiving myself of things I didn’t need.
I went on like that until at 48 years old I met my husband, and I was happy – then 7 years after meeting, marrying, and building a life it was all over. What to do?
Well…what to do is that I had to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again. This year I started with a new awareness first thing first. I did want that degree, so I began small, I started with wanting to obtain my Associate Degree, I began the process with the concept of completion – that’s it. No matter what getting the degree and completing the process. What I learned along the way was that I could reach my goals through persistence, and it did not have to be perfect, but it needed to be consistent. So I learned to be consistent and persistent all the while understanding that I am uniquely me and I can achieve my goals if I believe and focus.
So I did just that then I started hitting milestones: an Associate degree on the Dean’s list; a Bachelor of Art degree in Communication graduating Magna Cum Laude; obtaining a graduate certificate in Project Management with a 4.0; becoming a board member for Art House Productions in Jersey City then board Chair; becoming campaign manager for Lewis Spears the 2021 Mayoral candidate and now I am teaching adult learners in technology at Hudson County Schools of Technology. And finally, I have created The Level Up Concern to build a community that assists everyone with achieving their goals.
At the Level Up Concern we are change agents designed to promote and enable change. We are here to support new ways of doing things differently in your life. This can be done by creating new processes, the adoption of new management structures or the transformation of old ways of engaging.
Our particular area of expertise is offering a different way to look at our life and your business. Through the examination of new viewpoints we are able to ensure that the change you want and need happens successfully and creates a significant difference in the way you live your life and do business.
Hudson Schools of Technology
2022 – Present
Southern New Hampshire University
Magna Cum Laude 3.8 GPA
November 2018 – Present
January 2022 – Present
October 2019 – Present
January 2020 – Present
