Catching Up With Forman Scholar Aaliyah Holden!
After only three years of study, Forman Scholar Aaliyah Holden graduated from the University of Tampa this spring with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. She’s already landed a job in the Sunshine State, where she has the opportunity to positively impact and improve the lives of young people in need. We recently caught up with Aaliyah to learn more about her college experience and her plans for the future.
What was life like on UT’s campus?
Something was always happening, which kept each day pretty exciting. I think back to my first week at UT, when I had the opportunity to meet a bunch of organizations and clubs on campus. Over the years, I joined the criminology club, the PEACE Volunteer Center, the Black Student Union, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Campus Crown and Presidential Leadership Fellows. I also had the opportunity to complete two internships, one with the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office and another with the Adult Addiction Receiving Facility (AARF) in Tampa. Finally, I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi (an academic honor society), Alpha Phi Sigma (the criminal justice honor society) and Tri-Alpha (the honor society for first-generation college students).
How did you overcome any adversity you faced while in college?
My mentors helped tremendously. They provided me with direction and enlightenment in ways that I couldn’t imagine. However, there were times when my mentors couldn’t provide answers, and in those moments, I learned how to step out of my comfort zone and do things that made me uncomfortable. I started to live by the saying, “Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable.” Communication was the biggest challenge throughout my college experience, and I overcame it. If I had not had the opportunity to go to a university 1,000 miles from home and learn to be independent, I would not have the courage that I have now to approach adversity and challenges in the world.
How did the Forman Acton Foundation support you throughout your college journey?
The primary way they supported me was by introducing me to Jonathan and Joanne, the Scholars’ financial advisors. Money and expenses were things that I should have taken more seriously when I went to college. However, I greatly appreciate the advice and guidance that Joanne and Jonathan provided. Based on our conversations, I’ve begun to make wiser choices regarding spending, using credit cards, saving, etc. Also, the Foundation allowed me to not worry about tuition nearly at all. I’m blessed to say that, because of the Foundation, my student loans were fully paid off less than two months after I graduated.
Now that you’ve graduated, what’s next?
I’ve already started my career with the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) in Tampa. Believe it or not, my internship with the AARF helped me find my current job. The AARF is part of a larger nonprofit, the Agency for Community Treatment Services (ACTS), which provides various services and resources to the local community. ACTS has a program dedicated to working with juveniles that intrigued me, and that was the JAC. The JAC is a receiving, processing, assessment and intervention program that provides community services for young offenders and truants within one location. My desire to work with juveniles was born after I took a course on juvenile delinquents at UT. Working with these young people has helped me take in, appreciate and better understand others’ diverse perspectives and viewpoints.
Why are organizations such as the Forman Acton Foundation so important?
Organizations like the Foundation are essential because of the sense of belonging they create for us Scholars. Yes, I joined organizations at UT, but they never could offer the same support that the Foundation has provided since Day 1. They’ve assisted in paving the way for my education and success, for which I am incredibly thankful. And the support of the Foundation has continued even after graduation – few organizations operate like this.