GED to PhD: From Survival to Self-Definition - A Memoir

In GED to PhD: From Survival to Self-Definition-A Memoir, Dr. Adrianna M. Hooker shares a deeply personal journey of overcoming shame, trauma, and self-doubt to become the woman she was destined to be. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Adrianna grew up in a crowded home where love and struggle coexisted. She faced early hardships that could have defined her-but instead, they refined her. At sixteen, she earned her GED, determined to rewrite the narrative that said she wouldn't make it. Through years of balancing work, motherhood, and higher education, she transformed from a young girl surviving on grit to a woman walking in grace. Along the way, she faced the weight of imposter syndrome, the silence of grief, and the challenge of breaking generational cycles-but she also found faith, purpose, and peace. Told with honesty, warmth, and spiritual insight, GED to PhD is more than a memoir-it's a testimony. It's a reminder that your beginnings do not determine your destiny. With each chapter, readers witness a woman reclaiming her power, forgiving her past, and finding wholeness in her purpose. For anyone who has ever felt unworthy, unseen, or uncertain of their path, this book offers hope: that even the most humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Dr. Hooker's journey from survival to self-definition will inspire students, women of color, educators, social workers, and anyone striving to overcome the odds. Her story proves that no beginning is too humble, no dream too distant, and no wound beyond healing. Empowering, faith-filled, and profoundly human, GED to PhD is a celebration of transformation-proof that you can rise, rebuild, and redefine yourself through every chapter of your life.