Three-Time Cancer Survivor Selected As A Newman Civic Fellow

As a three-time cancer survivor who endured homelessness as a teenager, Angelita Caraballo understands the importance of empathy. 

Those experiences steered her toward a life of helping others; in the past two years, she has logged more than 1,200 community service hours. 

In March, the 43-year-old’s compassion was recognized when she was named a 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellow, the highest honor for student leadership and engagement.

“I’m just in awe and really humbled,” said Caraballo, who graduated from Miami Dade College with her associate’s degree in psychology this April. “I did everything out of my heart.”

Caraballo is the first West Campus student to be selected for the year-long program—with the non-profit Campus Compact. The fellowship provides networking opportunities to improve students’ personal, professional and civic growth skills.

For more than six years, Caraballo has served as the project coordinator and a lead mentor at Calvary Women’s Prison Ministry and as a team leader at Prison Fellowship Angel Tree where she helps host fundraisers for children who have parents in prison. 

In addition, she has volunteered at Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step Christian program for people struggling with pain or addiction, and at the Homestead Correctional Institution and MetroWest Detention Center as a mentor and counselor. 

Early Struggles

After obtaining her GED when she was 17, Caraballo’s higher education journey began in the fall of 1996 at MDC. During that time, she also started working as a student assistant in the advisement office at Wolfson Campus.

Caraballo completed nine credits, but after becoming homeless, her grades slipped and she dropped out in the fall of 1997.

Despite the situation, she was able to maintain jobs at Universal Imports as an account receivable manager, an executive assistant to the chief executive officer at Intrust Credit and Financial Services and an administrative assistant specialist at M2 Realty Corporation.

Two years later, Caraballo began living with her grand-uncle and returned to MDC. Unfortunately, she dropped out again after he passed away.

For the next 17 years, her studies were stalled as she struggled with her health. In 2014 and 2017, she was diagnosed with cancer.  

Back At MDC

In 2020, Caraballo was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. Unable to work, she decided to register for classes in the fall and took advantage of the incentives MDC offered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To see someone in such a bad place, and then see them in college and succeed,” said Manuel Duasso, an English professor at Kendall Campus who helped Caraballo return to the College in 2020. “It was one of the greatest days of my profession and 29 years to have seen [Angelita] win this award. This is why I come to work every day.”

During her most recent tenure at MDC, Caraballo has been heavily involved at West Campus. She joined the National Alliance for Mental Illness, the Yes! Club and the Psychology Club.

Caraballo, who is a certified health educator, has also completed training in breast cancer and heart disease prevention, youth and adult mental health first aid, suicide prevention and CPR/AED/first aid, all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA. 

Two out of Caraballo’s three children have followed in her footsteps at MDC. Neylin Angeli, 21, is an education major and Alexander Angel, 16, is a dual enrollment student. 

Caraballo, the first person to obtain a degree in her family, plans to continue her education. She has been accepted into Barry University and Florida International University—among other schools—and plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in licensed clinical social work. 

She aspires to open her own practice, offering therapy and counseling to people suffering from trauma or mental illnesses. 

“I believe that she represents the story of MDC students, which is about resilience, and about bouncing back despite their circumstances,” said Jessyca Perez, a psychology professor at West Campus who nominated Caraballo for the Newman Civic Fellowship. “Angelita embodies the story of the comeback kid.”