As they get ready to walk across the same stage and graduate together, siblings D’Erik and Dwayne N. credit the mutual support that inspired them to complete the milestone.
“He’s just a great dude. If you sit back and watch him, even if he’s just playing video games or basketball, it’s just kind of inspiring,” Dwayne said. “He followed his passion, and now he’s getting that opportunity to succeed. And I’m like, wow, I can do that, too.”
D’Erik highlights his brother’s intelligence and confidence as a source of inspiration.
“He is very smart. And that has always inspired me to be the same, or even better,” he said. “Most people want to act a certain way around their homeboys or homegirls, but he’s not like that. He doesn’t follow the wave or try to fit in. He does what he wants to and what makes him happy.”
The pair, seniors at Thomas Jefferson High School, experienced frequent relocations and diverse educational environments, including virtual schooling.
Originally from Oklahoma, they moved to Dallas in 2021 in pursuit of better opportunities. They initially enrolled at North Dallas High School, but housing challenges led them to transfer to Thomas Jefferson.
At Thomas Jefferson, they found a supportive community and set their sights on being their family’s first to graduate from college.
Their dedication to getting an education earned D’Erik and Dwayne the respect of their peers and teachers. School counselor, Arletha Davis, played a significant role in their success, helping them see that their past does not define them.
“It just takes a second to realize that your teachers are more than teachers. They’re people who want the best for you,” Dwayne said.
Despite their challenges, Davis said the brothers always had smiles and never advertised their hardships.
“When I ask them how they manage, they say they will be okay and have been in worse situations. They are both extremely humble,” she said.
Throughout their high school career, both brothers maintained perfect attendance and consistently achieved high grades.
“We’d have to be at different places throughout Dallas, which made it hard getting to school. We’d have to wake up two or three hours before school started to arrive on time,” Dwayne said. “But for me, it was mostly about how much I love learning. I like challenging myself, so when I wake up, I think, ‘I should go to school today. I really should.'”
Thanks to their hard work and the counseling of Thomas Jefferson’s Academic Success Program, both brothers applied and were accepted to universities.
Dwayne will study computer science at Albion College in Michigan on a full-ride scholarship. His focus is on animation and video game creation. D’Erik will go to the Chicago area to major in English at North Park University, aiming to play basketball professionally overseas someday.
While their career paths might limit their interactions in the short term, they are hopeful about reconnecting during the holidays.
“It’s just going to be new not seeing someone I’m so used to seeing. But I think we’ll be fine here,” said Dwayne.
Asked about advice for other students facing similar challenges, the siblings offer hope.
“Don’t get discouraged on what you want to do just because of your situation,” both siblings said. “Instead of saying, well, this is my life now, just keep your head up, move forward, and don’t stay in the same place.”
