Resilience in Every Chapter

Written by: Giovanna Garcia

July 21, 2025

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At Give Back, we believe in the power of second chances, support systems, and self-belief. Few places embody that spirit more than the DCF Cumberland School in New Jersey — a school where students who have faced adversity are rewriting their stories with courage, grit, and an unwavering commitment to building brighter futures. Through three student spotlights, we witness the resilience, growth, and determination that define the DCF experience and what it means to truly persist.

Sha’yanna: From Overwhelmed to On Track

Like Yarelis, Sha’yanna is a teen mom who found hope and a second chance at DCF. With a one-year-old son and no consistent adult guidance in her life, she once considered giving up. But the school wouldn’t let her.

“The school kept calling me and pushing me,” she says. That persistence paid off: Sha’yanna is now graduating, enrolling in college to become a nurse, and working toward securing her own apartment. “Sometimes it gets hard being a parent and a student,” she shares, “but the school helps with my baby, which makes things easier.”

Sha’yanna credits the teachers—especially Ms. Kristina—for being her champions. Her journey hasn’t been smooth: moving out, dealing with the stress of being on her own, and raising a child while the father is incarcerated. But she’s learned to persevere. “Before, I didn’t want to talk to anyone,” she reflects. “Now I feel like I’ve changed and grown as an individual.”

Her future goal? To become a registered nurse, move to Florida, and start fresh with her son. Her advice to other young parents: “It gets hard and you’ll feel like giving up. But don’t. Keep going.”

Each of these students shares a common thread — resilience. At Give Back, success isn’t just about academic achievement. It’s about creating a space where students can heal, believe in themselves, and build toward something better.

Isaiah: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Small School

Isaiah, 18, describes himself as open-minded, outgoing, and adventurous but that wasn’t always the case. Before transferring, he felt trapped in a toxic environment and was involved in a drug program that left him feeling stuck. Seeking a fresh start, he enrolled and found exactly what he needed: a close-knit community and a sense of purpose.

Isaiah became class president, started working, and is now the first on his mother’s side to graduate high school. His school experience was transformed by the support of his aunt (who works at the school) and by teachers who genuinely cared. “I used to be angry and reactive,” he shares. “Now I don’t argue anymore. I’ve grown a lot.”

He credits DCF for helping him shift both academically and emotionally. He’s still deciding whether to pursue construction or the military, but for now, he’s focused on building independence – earning his permit, saving for a car, and working hard. His advice for others: stay consistent. “Do a little bit of your work every day, don’t fall behind.” Isaiah’s story reminds us that with the right support, transformation is always within reach.

Yarelis: Pushing Forward for Her Daughter

At just 19, Yarelis has faced more than many do in a lifetime. A teen mom, she found herself pushed out of a traditional high school and unsure of her path forward. It was a friend who first told her about a school that wouldn’t just accept her but would support her. She made the leap and it changed her life.

With her baby now attending daycare onsite, Yarelis can check in during the day, feed her daughter between classes, and balance parenting with her schoolwork. “Having a kid has motivated me tremendously to do better,” she says. While the journey has been far from easy — overcoming anger, surviving abuse, and even hospitalization — Yarelis found a lifeline in DCF.

Her greatest accomplishment? Graduating. With encouragement from supporters like her math teacher and Ms. Kristina from Give Back, she’s learned to push through dark moments and keep going. Her advice to other teen moms: “If you don’t push yourself, you’re not going to get anywhere.” Now, she is looking ahead at a future in the medical field as a Certified Nursing Assistant and feeling grateful for the blessing that is her daughter.