On Saturday, April 26, inside the energetic hum of loanDepot Park, nearly 14,000 Miami Dade College (MDC) students marked the culmination of their academic journeys. Among them were two siblings whose shared moment was decades in the making—Naomie and Jacques Yxama.
Despite a 10-year age gap, the Yxamas made the momentous walk across the stage the same day, diplomas in hand, as living proof of perseverance, second chances, and the power of family. Their story, rooted in the heart of Miami’s Haitian American community, is one that speaks to resilience and the life-changing impact of higher education institutions like MDC.
Jacques, 32, first enrolled at MDC years ago but made the difficult decision to pause his studies in order to support his family financially. As time passed, the demands of work and life pulled him further from the classroom. That is, until his younger sister Naomie, now 22, showed him what was possible.
“My eldest brother especially shows me what perseverance and determination look like,” Naomie said. “He will be graduating alongside me!”
An Honors graduate with a 3.55 GPA in Graphic Arts, Naomie encouraged her brother to return to school as she advanced in her own studies. Her inspiration—and Jacques’ own growing desire to pursue his passion for photography and film—led him back to MDC, where he completed his Associate in Film with a 3.48 GPA. Now, he plans to continue into the college’s bachelor’s program in the fall.
“MDC offers some of the best programs for the cost,” Jacques said. “It was the smartest choice for my education.”
But the siblings’ story goes beyond transcripts and tassels. It stretches back to the 1990s, when the Yxama family emigrated from Haiti in search of opportunity. The youngest and only girl in her family, Naomie faced personal challenges, including her father’s health struggles, yet found her stride at MDC after initially doubting herself.
“I felt defeated and lacked the drive to even apply anywhere, including MDC,” she recalled. “But once I got here, I found myself surrounded by incredible resources, supportive peers, and faculty who genuinely believed in me. MDC didn’t just give me an education, it gave me hope and purpose.”
Both siblings graduated from William H. Turner Technical Arts High School and went on to make the Dean’s List at MDC. Today, Naomie works at the College’s North Campus and dreams of becoming a teacher to inspire the next generation. Jacques, camera in hand, is eager to tell stories that connect with audiences and preserve emotion through visual art.
Together, their journey is a testament to what’s possible when education meets encouragement—and how a community college can uplift not just individuals, but entire families.
