send us an email to myhiddenstruggles@gmail.com

Growing up as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, higher education wasn’t an option—it was discouraged, shamed, and treated as a waste of time. Like many others, I was told I might not even graduate high school because Armageddon was “just around the corner.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses told me college was not an option. In this video, I share how indoctrination shaped my view of education—and what teachers, parents, and anyone working with JW kids need to know.

You’ll hear my personal story of how I was convinced college wasn’t possible, why I carried a negative attitude about school, and how I eventually broke free to earn my degree years later.

If you’ve ever struggled with:

Feeling “behind” in life after leaving a high-control religion

Being told college or career advancement is pointless

Catching up on opportunities you were once denied

…then my story will resonate with you.

🎥 Stay until the end—I share how I went from failing high school science to graduating at the top of my college class.

✦ If this story speaks to you, please like, comment, and subscribe. Your support helps more people see they’re not alone in their hidden struggles.

#️⃣ Chapters (optional to add later)
00:00 Intro
00:20 What family didn’t understand after I left
01:30 Growing up JW and being discouraged from school
05:00 Failing science because of indoctrination
09:00 Realizing college was “not an option”
13:00 How I finally went back and earned my degree
16:00 My advice for anyone struggling today

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send us an email to myhiddenstruggles@gmail.com

Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses comes with questions nobody prepared us for: Who am I? What do I believe? How do I rebuild?

For me, books became lifelines. Authors like Mel Robbins and Viola Davis gave me practical tools for growth and self-confidence. And even in fiction, I found truth — Carl Weber’s novels opened my eyes to real-world situations, relationships, and critical thinking in ways the Watchtower never allowed.

📚 These stories showed me that wisdom isn’t limited to “approved” books. There’s truth in fiction, healing in storytelling, and strength in voices outside the organization.

✨ If you’re leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses or learning how to thrive after Watchtower, this video will remind you: you’re not alone, and the right voices can help guide your path.

Recommended Books

Mel Robbins - Let Them - https://a.co/d/8TtUHmx (audio book)
The Heart in the Bottle, Oliver Jeffers - https://a.co/d/hNqeFNc (paperback)
Finding Me: A Memoir, Viola Davis - https://a.co/d/i7SHg4W (audio book)
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter, 50 Cent - https://a.co/d/6RbJVn7 (audio book)

Support the show

send us an email to myhiddenstruggles@gmail.com

In this episode of Hidden Struggles, Lady Cee sits down with Ra'Shuna — an award-winning teacher, wife, and mother — to share her extraordinary story. From navigating a terrifying medical crisis under Watchtower pressure, to being shunned by her own family, Ra'Shuna reveals how she and her husband flipped the script: cleaning houses by night, studying by day, and ultimately creating a life on their own terms. This is Part One of a two-part conversation you won’t forget.

👉 Don’t miss Part Two, where Ra'Shuna opens up about the power of books, literacy, and reclaiming her own voice. LINK HERE.

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