​​Rowan College of South Jersey Justice Studies student Tianna Holden is determined to earn her degree and inspire her son to achieve greatness. ​

Rowan College of South Jersey–Cumberland's (RCSJ) Tianna Holden is a busy woman. 

Holden, a 25-year-old Millville resident, is a Justice Studies major in RCSJ's Behavioral Sciences and Law & Social Justice Division. She works full-time at the Superior Courthouse in Bridgeton as a judiciary clerk and is also a single parent with a four-year-old boy. 

Notwithstanding 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 Superior​ Courthouse. She specifically works with landlord-tenant issues. 

“I deal with evictions. I get them scheduled for court," Holden said. “I deal with money … I deal with habitability trials. I'm in the court every Wednesday … making sure the judge is on track with his calendar."

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, or even elementary [school]," she said. “But then I worked here [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," Holden added. “So, I want to be able to help more." 

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 from jump, because I do have a four-year-old son. I will not do schoolwork on the weekend because I am already taking time away from him to be at work during the week … going to school," she said. 

“So, during the week, I just make sure I lock in and plan my week out based on [my classes]."

Although she had a plan, adding another thing on her plate was not an easy decision to make. 

“... [A]s a mom, the thought of going to school and taking time away from my kid was really hard for me," Holden said. “I want to be there for him. I want to be present for him. I want to be, like, accessible to him whenever he needs it."

“That's just fear," she continued, “because my son, to this day, knows his mom loves him. I still am very much present with him. Any school events, I'm still there … and we still go to aquariums. 

“We have time together, and he can see me doing my schoolwork. He can see the determination." 

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 really, like, understand the mindset behind people when they come in here [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 people's upbringings affect them and the impact it can have on their families for generations.

“You hear people say all the time … 'where you come from doesn't matter.' To an extent, it actually really 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." 

Holden is creating the type of environment that she hopes her son will thrive in one day. Graduating with a degree from RCSJ in 2027 will help her achieve that goal. 

“He can see the determination," she said. “My son will actually be able to watch me walk on [the] stage. He'll actually be able to experience what that looks like and the joy and accomplishment [he will get] 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."

For information about Rowan College of South Jersey's Behavioral Sciences and Law & Social Justice Division, visit RCSJ.edu/behavioralsciencesjustice.

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