Leah Remini reveals earning college degree from New York University at age 53 after beginning ‘terrifying journey’ three years ago

Leah Remini announced on social media on Thursday that she has received a university degree at the age of 53.

The actress posted an image of her associate degree from New York University to her approximately 3.6 million followers on Instagram and nearly 863,000 on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Three years ago, I embarked on a terrifying journey: becoming a college student at the age of 50, after having only an eighth-grade education and spending 35 years in a totalitarian cult,” Leah posted with her diploma.

“After three years of hard work, long nights, tears, and wanting to give up so many times, I earned an associate degree from NYU,” she added.

The King Of Queens star said she continued her higher education and obtained a bachelor’s degree.

‘I had really wanted higher education for years, but I didn’t get any further because I was afraid I wasn’t smart enough. Even though I was successful in leaving Scientology, three decades of brainwashing continued to grip my mind,” Leah wrote.

She added: ‘I’m so grateful to have had the support I needed from my family and friends, including my mother, my stepfather George, my sisters Nicole and Shannon, my husband Angelo and most importantly my little nugget. my daughter Sofia.”

Leah also thanked her therapist and teacher in her post, as well as the staff and professors at NYU.

‘I know I am in a privileged position that allows me the flexibility to do this. But over the past three years, I’ve heard from thousands of people, mostly women, who have decided to take the plunge and get their GED or pursue a college education at an older age,” Leah wrote.

“Whether a cult has controlled your life, you have a full-time job as a stay-at-home parent, or a full-time job outside the home, it’s never too late to continue your education and pursue what you’ve always wanted to achieve for yourself!” she concluded.

Leah played the role of Carrie Heffernan in the hit CBS sitcom The King Of Queens, which lasted a total of nine seasons and ran from 1998 to 2007.

She revealed on social media last month that she was in perimenopause, while also battling depression and anxiety since leaving the Church of Scientology.

Leah shared that she is going through perimenopause, the transition period before menopause.

The actress posted an image of her associate degree from New York University to her approximately 3.6 million followers on Instagram and nearly 863,000 on X.

“Three years ago, I embarked on a terrifying journey: becoming a college student at the age of 50 after only an eighth-grade education and spending 35 years in a totalitarian cult,” Leah wrote along with her diploma.

Leah played the role of Carrie Heffernan on the hit CBS sitcom, which lasted a total of nine seasons and ran from 1998 to 2007, and is shown in a 2005 still with Kevin James as Doug.

The New York City native, who was shown in Los Angeles in September 2017, revealed on social media last month that she was in perimenopause, while also battling depression and anxiety since leaving the Church of Scientology.

“In addition to my struggles with depression, my body seemed to change overnight, something women my age (53) go through naturally, but I know it’s still a shock for many of us,” the star added.

Symptoms include sleep problems, night sweats, headaches, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, hot flashes and more, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

“I wrote this because I often feel very alone when I experience it, and by writing about this and sharing it publicly, I hope to feel less isolated and hope that I can help some of you feel the same,” she concluded .

She also revealed that she has had an ongoing battle with depression since leaving Scientology in 2013.

She became a fierce critic of the organization after she left, publishing a bestselling memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, in 2015. Leah also appeared in a documentary called Scientology and the Aftermath.