ATLANTA - Giving up on education was never an option for Georgia State graduate Nahomie Julien (B.A. ’13) who, at the age of 18, moved from her native country of Haiti to pursue higher education in the United States.
Julien left her home at the behest of her parents, who wanted a better life for their daughter.
“Haiti is a third-world country. At the time, my parents thought coming to America was an opportunity for a better life,” Julien said.
The move to the U.S. presented new challenges for Julien. While studying for her psychology degree at Georgia State, she faced financial hardships and language difficulties. At the time, her English vocabulary was limited, and to help pay for school she worked at McDonalds for $5.25 per hour.
Julien’s desire to be the first person in her family with a college degree kept her going.
“It wasn’t an easy transition, but I didn’t let it deter me. I was the first person to graduate high school in my family. Everyone was looking up to me to make it somewhere,” Julien said. “Not going to school wasn’t an option. I paved the way and set the foundation for the next little girl to make it.”
Julien’s hard work and dedication paid off as she was named one of the Georgia State Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 honorees for 2024.
Julien, now 38, is using her experiences and influence to positively impact minorities, LGBTQ+ youth and homeless individuals through her nonprofit organization, First Integrated Community Care Services (FICCS).
Julien founded FICCS in 2014 with the idea of providing free medical and behavioral support to underprivileged communities. Since its inception, the organization has expanded its services by providing housing, job training and internship opportunities. In 2023, the organization provided housing assistance to more than 300 Gwinnett County residents and HIV testing to more than 2,000 individuals.
As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC-II) and Certified Anger Management Specialist (CAMS-II), Julien said she knows firsthand how important it is to address problems in minority communities.
“I’m big on prevention. If I see a problem, I want to do something about it,” Julien said. “I want to show our youth that there’s another side to what they’re used to. There are other options and opportunities available.”
This year’s 40 Under 40 alumni were recognized at a ceremony and reception March 22 at the Georgia State Convocation Center.
Julien said she’s honored to be one of this year’s recipients and hopes her journey inspires others to pursue their dreams, no matter the odds.
“Where I come from and having very little support, to be recognized is huge. This is for the little girl who had to figure it all out by herself," Julien said. "It’s remarkable, and I’m humbled by the entire experience."
-Photo by Raven Schley