This chapter chronicles my journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and community building as a Black/African American woman pursuing a second doctorate as a non-traditional Ph.D. student. Through navigating coursework, research training, and relationships in academia, I confronted and resisted externally imposed stereotypes of African American women, grounding myself instead in authentic self-definition and self-valuation (Collins, 1986). My narrative highlights the role of mentoring, the intentional creation of supportive communities, and the development of strategies for engaging and navigating within your Ph.D. program and relationships with faculty and peers from an empowered stance. By sharing my experiences, I aim to offer insights that inform Ph.D. students as they shape their own learning, create a supportive village, and engage with faculty and peers with confidence and authenticity, while also providing recommendations for the mentors who support them.