FROM POOLER TO NAVY OFFICER: Tirzah Daniel’s Inspiring Path to Service

Story by Katrice Williams

On a beautiful May morning in Annapolis, Maryland, Tirzah Daniel could hardly contain her excitement as she sat among 1,047 fellow graduates at the U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 2025 commencement ceremony.

After four years of rigorous training, academic excellence, and unwavering determination, this Pooler  native was about to achieve her dream of becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Navy.

“Oh my gosh. Finally, we are here. This is it,” she thought as the ceremony began. “When we leave this stadium, we are not midshipmen anymore.”

For Tirzah, this moment represented far more than just graduation—it was the culmination of a journey that began right here in our community and would soon take her to serve our nation with honor and distinction.

Roots in Pooler

Tirzah has called Pooler home her entire life, growing up alongside her parents Veronica and Reudal, and her sister Jael. As a 2020 graduate of Savannah Arts Academy, music was her first passion—she majored in both piano and chorus, talents that would later open unexpected doors during her naval career.

But it was during her junior year at SAA that Tirzah discovered her calling in military service. Learning about the Navy’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps sparked her interest in combining her love of law with military service. When she and her parents visited the Naval Academy’s Candidate Visit Weekend, she knew she’d found her path.

“It was everything I wanted out of a college experience. I admired the structure and discipline,” Tirzah recalls.

When One Door Closes

Like many great success stories, Tirzah’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. When her initial application to the Naval Academy was denied at the end of her senior year, she was heartbroken. But her mother’s wisdom would prove prophetic: “I don’t think your journey with the academy is over just yet.”

Instead of giving up, Tirzah enrolled at Savannah State University and joined their Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). Surrounded by supportive mentors, including her NROTC gunnery sergeant and lieutenant, she found the encouragement and guidance she needed to reapply to the academy.

“Savannah State was where I needed to be at the time. It reinvigorated my love for learning. I was able to grow there. I don’t think I would’ve been ready for the academy without Savannah State,” she reflects.

The Call to Serve

The Naval Academy admission process is notoriously competitive, requiring not only academic excellence but also a congressional nomination. Tirzah vividly remembers her interview with a panel of 15 community leaders—walking into that U-shaped room with one chair in the middle, she was nervous but determined.

“I walked up to every one of them and shook their hands because I wanted to relax and realize that they were just people,” she says. Her authenticity and preparation paid off—she received the nomination.

In May 2021, the call came: Tirzah had been accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Forged by Challenge

The academy experience is designed to transform civilians into naval officers through rigorous academic, physical, and mental challenges. Tirzah’s journey began with “Plebe Summer”—a grueling 7½-week program that strips away the “I and me” mentality and builds a “we and us” mindset essential for military leadership.

With only two phone calls allowed during the entire summer, Tirzah treasured her connection to home. “I immediately burst into tears when I heard my mom say,

‘Hello, my baby,’” she remembers of that first precious call.

The academy’s Sponsor Family program provided additional support, pairing midshipmen with military families who welcomed them into their lives. Tirzah’s sponsor mother, a senior chief in the Navy and member of the Sea Chanters Chorus, became an invaluable mentor and friend.

Finding Her Voice

Just when Tirzah thought her musical journey was over, she discovered the Naval Academy Glee Club.

After auditioning successfully, she eventually became vice president, traveling across the country and abroad, creating “four years of amazing memories and amazing friendships.”

One of her most meaningful performances was at President Jimmy Carter’s State Funeral Services at Washington National Cathedral. “As a midshipman from Georgia myself, it really touched my heart. He was the only person from the academy who went on to become President,” she says.

Academic Excellence

The Naval Academy’s academic rigor is legendary, with core requirements including three semesters of calculus, two semesters each of chemistry and physics. Tirzah chose to major in English with a minor in Japanese, embracing the academy’s philosophy as “a learning laboratory literally built for you to stumble and learn how to grow.”

A Moment of Triumph

Graduation day brought a flood of emotions as Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the academy’s first female superintendent, officiated the ceremony. The most touching moment came when Tirzah’s parents placed her new officer bars on her shoulders while her sister placed her cover on her head.

“My dad changed my right shoulder, and my mom changed my left shoulder. Both were crying,” she recalls. “It had been a long journey through the academy. God got me through. I was feeling a lot of gratitude and some peace.”

Gratitude and Faith

Throughout her journey, Tirzah has been sustained by her faith and the support of her community. She’s especially grateful for her church family at Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship Church and the “serious prayer warriors” who covered her in prayer throughout her academy years.

“I could not get through the academy on my own. God didn’t send me here to do it by myself. It takes an entire crew to run a ship,” she says, already thinking like the naval officer she’s become.

Serving Our Nation

As Ensign Tirzah Daniel begins her naval career as a division officer, she carries with her the values instilled by her Pooler upbringing, the excellence demanded by the Naval Academy, and the unwavering support of her community.

“I have no clue what’s in store, but I am so excited to finally put all the things I learned into practice,” she says.

From our community to the quarterdeck, Tirzah Daniel represents the very best of Pooler—determination, faith, service, and the courage to pursue dreams that serve something greater than ourselves. As she begins her naval career, she carries not just her own hopes and dreams, but the pride of an entire community that watched her grow from a music-loving teenager into a leader ready to serve our nation with honor.

We’re proud to call Ensign Tirzah Daniel one of our own, and we can’t wait to see how she continues to make Pooler  proud as she serves our great nation.  ■