As the first person of color to represent the 14th district, Tennille R. McCoy has held the state assembly seat since January of 2024, according to New Jersey Globe online.
In a Zoom interview, McCoy said, “It’s a humbling experience for me, but it is so important to make sure that I’m laying a foundation and providing others with tools to be successful.”
McCoy grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood. “As a young black teenager, really putting myself out there to run was about my upbringing–building confidence, knowing that I was capable, and had the skill set and personality for it.”
She started by running for class president at Nottingham High School, and later ran for Miss Freshman at Virginia State University. When she moved back to New Jersey, she ran for Hamilton Township Council before being elected Assemblywoman.
McCoy spoke of the issues students will face in the future, such as affordability, housing and job opportunities. She encourages students to build their financial literacy. “People have to know, ‘How do you make money?’” One thing she wants to drill into high school students is that it’s easier for you to become a millionaire in your 30s than it is in your 40s. She urged students to save, invest in stocks and real estate in order to create long term success.
Her best advice to students? First, keep up with current events. She cautions against overuse of social media. “Make sure that you’re not just getting your source of information from social media. You have to do your own due diligence, so just know how to do your own research.”
Her second piece of advice is to be a good person. “Greet people with a smile. Your personality is everything. Make sure that you network. Networking is going to be incredibly important for you to be able to propel to the next level
in the workforce.”
And last, she encourages young people to be civically engaged. “I do believe that all politics is local,” she said. “It’s important to make sure that you stay involved, be seen, be heard, and make sure that the time you’re spending on these projects are useful because your time is super valuable.”
