RCSJ Student Aims to Inspire Toddler Son by Earning Degree
Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland (RCSJ) student Tianna Holden is a busy woman. The 25-year-old Millville resident, is a justice studies major in behavioral sciences and law & social justice division. She works full-time at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton as a judiciary clerk and is also a single parent with a four-year-old boy.
Despite her demanding schedule, Holden, who graduated from Millville High School in 2018, is determined to earn her degree in hopes she can inspire her son to achieve great things.
“I have something pushing me to want to know more, to keep pushing through school,” Holden said. “I want to also be in a position to help him if he does decide he wants to go to college. I hope that it inspires him, and I think it will because he’ll be able to actually look back and see his mom did it.”
Holden works in the civil division at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton. She specifically works with landlord-tenant issues. Working at the courthouse and seeing people go through challenging experiences with their homes and livelihoods is what made Holden decide to become a justice studies student.
“I wanted to be a preschool teacher for a long time,” she said. “But then I worked here at the courthouse and I kind of fell in love with what I do. People have a disadvantage at times because they just don’t know the process. So, I want to be able to help more.”
Holden, who has a 3.71 GPA, noted that being an RCSJ student has helped her delve deeper into certain facets of her job.
“My classes are helping me to understand the mindset behind people when they come in the courthouse, and it’s helping me to see things in a different light,” Holden said. “There is a mental aspect behind a lot of decisions that people make and why people act the way they act.”
One of her favorite classes was sociology of juvenile delinquency, taught by Dr. Jennifer Toof. She learned how one’s upbringing affects them and the impact it can have on their families for generations.
“You hear people say all the time that where you come from doesn’t matter. To an extent, it actually does, and people don’t want to see that,” Holden said. “I’m not saying you have to stay in those environments but it does affect people and decisions they make when they grow up.”
As a full-time mother and full-time employee, Holden had to adjust when she decided to return to school in 2023.
“I made a mental note to myself, because I have a four-year-old son. I will not do schoolwork on the weekend because I am already taking time away from him during the week,” she said.
“He can see the determination,” she said. “My son will actually be able to watch me walk on the stage. He’ll be able to experience what that looks like and the joy and accomplishment from seeing his mom do that.”
Holden also wanted to speak to single parents who are apprehensive about going to college: “I would just say, don’t let fear stop you from going to school. Your children will actually admire you, seeing you do it.”
