Tirza V., 19 years old, NJ

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Tirza has experienced significant heartbreak and instability throughout her life. Originally from Suriname, South America, she spent her early childhood in an orphanage before being adopted and moving to New Jersey at age 8. At 16, Tirza became involved with Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) after ongoing SA by her adoptive father was discovered, while her adoptive mother favored Tirza’s older sister and withdrew emotionally from Tirza. Following her removal from the home, moving from placement after placement, Tirza had no family visitation or consistent emotional support during the rest of her time in care. Throughout her teenage years, Tirza moved between shelters, treatment homes, and resource placements without ever having a stable home or dependable support system. Despite struggling with trauma, mental health, and social connections, she remained determined to build a better future and formed meaningful relationships with supportive professionals through DCP&P. She often coped with loneliness through social media and online gaming platforms like Roblox.

Tirza has set her sights on becoming a correction officer, a career inspired by her desire to create stability, structure, and purpose in her own life while serving others. She has taken the courageous steps toward enrolling in the police academy, refusing to allow her painful past to define her future. Tirza is also enrolled in Rowan College of Burlington County majoring in Criminal Justice. However, despite her drive and ambition, Tirza is now facing one of the biggest obstacles standing between her and her dream: transportation. Without a reliable vehicle, Tirza is struggling to get to and from the police academy and maintain the consistency required to pursue her career goals. For a young woman who has already overcome abandonment, foster care placement instability, emotional trauma, and countless hardships without the support of family, the lack of transportation threatens to derail the future she has worked tirelessly to build for herself. She resides in Cumberland County and must travel to Camden County, which is about an hour away, for her daily attendance in the police academy Tirza is asking for an opportunity. An opportunity to remain focused on her education and career path and finally experience independence and stability after years of uncertainty and survival. Any help towards making this goal of achievement happen for Tirza would be more than appreciated.