A Former Dropout Dreams of Being a Psychologist: Tykira Robbins

The sweet, round-faced little girl digging in a garden whose picture hangs in the Isles reception area is Tykira Robbins. At the time she was a 7-year-old elementary school student working with Isles on a school garden.

A native of Trenton, Tykira was 18 when she stopped attending Trenton High School. Her brother told her about Isles’ YouthBuild Institute (IYI). She enrolled in the winter of 2003 as a 10th grader and by that following summer had earned her high school diploma.

Not only did IYI help Tykira stay focused academically, but she also credits IYI with keeping her “out of trouble” and away from the environment at Trenton High School that had not been a good influence on her.

As she was leaving IYI, Tykira set three goals for herself: in the short term, she wanted to take health and child care courses. Then she hopes to earn a two-year degree and, finally, a four-year degree. Her long-term goal is to become a psychologist.

Today, Tykira is attending classes at Mercer County Community College, while working at Trenton Community Charter School as a teacher’s aide.