Young Man from Paterson Vows to Achieve Greatness
While most people are together with their families and laying back while waiting for Christmas day to finally arrive, T’ziah Weaver is carrying boxes of presents for families in need.
This 18-year-old student, who was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, is heavily involved in events sponsored by the New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC).
By volunteering, Weaver has racked up over 2,000 hours of community service. He participates in events such as their annual Christmas drive, monthly movie nights, and annual turkey drives.
Weaver has also been a part of the Paterson Youth Council, yet another NJCDC program, which transforms the youth of Paterson into leaders.
Through this program he has been able to meet many political figures, the most inspiring of which was Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-Paterson), who he met in kindergarten when he was chosen to sing the national anthem for him.
Lautenberg, who died in 2013, told young Weaver, “If you’re passionate about [something], just keep doing, and don’t stop. Even if it may take a long time.”
This sparked the natural leader to become the determined young man he is today.
His endless hard work and dedication is all for the purpose of fulfilling his dream of becoming a politician. Weaver grew up with politicians in his family and was mentored by them.
Through this mentorship, he was able to witness the direct impact politicians have on society and communities.
“They gave me the pieces, and now I’m tasked [with] putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” he said.
He feels he would be taking for granted all of the advice and support he has received if he chose a different profession. “Failure is not an option on my road to success,” says Weaver.
