Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College by Victoria Marie Lees

 Reviewed by Nas Dean

Book Review: Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College by Victoria Marie Lees

Reading Determination by Victoria Marie Lees felt like having a long, heartfelt conversation with a friend who’s walked through fire and came out stronger, wiser, and deeply inspiring. As a mother myself (or even just as someone juggling life’s demands), I found this memoir incredibly moving and refreshingly honest.

Told in the first person, Lees shares her journey from self-doubt to success as she returns to college in

midlife—while raising five children. That alone is impressive, but what really drew me in was her vulnerability. She doesn’t sugarcoat the chaos: the emotional tug-of-war between motherhood and academia, the fear of not being “good enough,” and the pressure of being a role model while trying not to fall apart.

Her storytelling is down-to-earth and relatable. You don’t have to be a parent or a student to feel the weight of her challenges. You just need to have ever faced something that felt bigger than you—and dared to try anyway. I found myself cheering for her during every test, every essay, every sleepless night. And the way she wove in scenes with her children and her professors made the story both heartwarming and grounded.

What stood out most was the theme of resilience. Lees shows that it’s okay to stumble, to cry, to question your worth—but it’s also possible to keep going. Her courage isn’t flashy—it’s quiet, stubborn, and utterly inspiring. She doesn’t pretend to be superhuman. Instead, she shows how someone with fears and flaws can still accomplish something extraordinary.

If you're looking for a story that’s empowering without being preachy, deeply human, and full of heart, I highly recommend Determination. It left me with a renewed sense of what’s possible—with enough grit, love, and belief in yourself.