IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET YOUR DIPLOMA

By finally earning her high school diploma, Lynette Fehr accomplished something she left unfinished for more than 20 years.

Discouraged and frustrated with school when she quit at age 17 near the end of her junior year, Fehr found the learning experience easier this time around.

"A lot of things I had forgotten, but it was a lot more fun this time," said Fehr, who passed the test to earn her General Equivalency Diploma earlier this year. "I enjoyed learning."

The 41-year-old woman from Cape Girardeau said the desire to get a good job led her to take the adult education classes offered at the Vocational School in Cape Girardeau. She currently works at Lix Quality Nursery in Cape Girardeau.

Patty Bowman, 42, of Advance echoes that sentiment. Bowman earned her GED in June.

"You can't hardly get a decent job without it," Bowman said.

Nancy Branson, who works with the Adult Basic Education Program based out of the Cape Girardeau Vocational School, said job purposes are the NO. 1 reason people return to get their diploma.

The local program, which has satellites in Perryville, Marble Hill and Advance and serves every community in between, helps about 1,200 people a year. That number includes other services aside from the GED program.

"It makes a good second chance for someone who wants to finish their high school education," Branson said. "Roughly 8,000 individuals in the state of Missouri get their GED every year."

Bowman calls dropping out of school at age 15 a "stupid" decision, and feels redeemed by completing her education.

"I really did enjoy it," Bowman said. "I feel like I accomplished something in life."

Her sister-in-law encouraged her to take the courses offered at the Advance satellite center. She enjoyed the classes so much that she continues to attend twice a week to broaden her education and serve in a volunteer capacity. She currently works as a sewing machine operator at Columbia Sportswear in Chaffee.

Sandi Hendricks, adult basic education coordinator for the Cape program, said 108 people graduated in the area last time around. But she said even people with high school diplomas can benefit. People who test below what is considered a 12th-grade level in a given subject can take classes to improve in those areas. Also, various adult education classes are offered to area businesses for their employees.

Anyone 16 or older can return to earn their GED. The oldest graduate of the Cape program was a 76-year-old man.

"It's never too late, I don't think," Fehr said.