From the Project to an EdD

About the Book

The process documented in this book—from the inception of the project to the pursuit of a EdD—reflects not only my academic and professional journey but also the deeply personal challenges I have faced along the way. This path has been riddled with obstacles, moments of doubt, and painful realizations. It is a raw, vulnerable exploration of human complexity. Each page reveals not just professional milestones, but the profound emotional landscape of personal transformation. It tested my perseverance, strained relationships on both sides, and, in some cases, led to irreparable losses.

About the Author

The journey from living in a modest housing development to earning my doctorate defied all expectations. As a single parent, I faced countless obstacles that seemed designed to halt my progress at every turn. Each day was a negotiation between immediate family needs and academic aspirations. The greatest irony was that the very challenges that were meant to derail me instead propelled me forward. When childcare collapsed during exams, a professor’s compassion became mentorship. Financial constraints led to a last-minute scholarship application—completed in an emergency room—that funded critical years of study. Life’s harshest blow struck at the height of my academic journey when my mother passed. I had to defend my dissertation without her by my side. The timing was cruel, but her memory became my fuel. Each tear I shed carved deeper purpose into my pursuit, and every setback strengthened my resolve. In the face of heartbreak, I chose to rise. I carried her spirit with me into that defense room, and her love gave me the strength to finish what we had started together. Receiving my doctorate wasn’t just an academic achievement but the culmination of small victories and hard-won battles. Today’s stability and peace came not from avoiding struggles but from transforming them into stepping stones. My story proves that persistence matters more than perfection, and that the path forward often only appears once you’ve committed to the journey.