Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) senior Avanti Moore said she has earned many titles: Wife, mother, coworker, sister, daughter and friend, to name a few. She is proud of them all, but her newest title will have one of the nicest rings to it: GGC graduate.
Earning a college degree feels extra sweet to Moore because it’s proof that it’s never too late to redefine yourself.
Moore grew up in Gwinnett County, raised with her two siblings by a mother who was a government human resources director, and an entrepreneur father. She graduated from Mill Creek High School in 2007, got married and had two children. Fourteen years later, she applied to GGC as an adult learner.
“I’d just had my son in 2019 and that’s when I had the revelation that it was time for me to go to college – Georgia Gwinnett College!” she said.
She picked GGC because it was close to home, affordable and offered a strong balance between academics and life responsibilities. As an adult learner, she appreciated the smaller campus environment and how welcoming and accessible it felt, characteristics that were particularly essential in 2020, as she began her college journey at the crest of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When the pandemic hit, the world paused for all of us,” she recalled. “But I simply could not let that hold me back from the future I saw for myself. God allowed me to go through one of the most important transitions of my life during that time.”
Moore chose to seek a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a concentration in public health because it allowed flexibility and growth while still giving her access to opportunities in the health care field.
“I enjoy evolving, learning new things and finding ways to adapt my skills to different environments,” she said.
Earning her degree was a challenging five-year process, full of victories and defeats both small and large, and she admitted there were times she considered dropping out.
“But I persevered,” she said. “In the end, I didn’t let the lows overcome me. I started this journey so sure of what I wanted to be, but college did what it’s supposed to do, and I evolved. I figured myself out and became comfortable with change.”
Moore not only overcame the challenges but flourished by leaning into leadership and service.
“I’ve learned not to be selfish,” she said. “When my community thrives, I thrive.”
She was the chief justice of the Student Government Association for three years and served as the host for GGC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service events. Some of her favorite memories include hosting discussions in 2025 with Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, and in 2026 with actress Monique Coleman from the High School Musical movies.
“GGC has been a transformative experience for me,” she said. “I have grown personally and professionally, learning program planning, budgeting, leadership and relationship-building through networking. Even as an adult learner, GGC gave me space to lead, learn and truly belong.”
After graduation, Moore plans to begin working and explore where she fits professionally. She is especially interested in working in higher education and finding ways to combine it with public health. She also has plans to pursue a master’s degree in the future.
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