LATE GRADUATE STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF DIPLOMA

Thirteen years ago, the word success meant money to Angela Battles. Now it means living up to her potential and earning her high-school diploma.

"I used to think money would give me a perfect everything," said the 31-year-old wife and mother of five. "Now I know success means reaching my potential. I don't see any limitations in my life anymore."

Battles recently began visiting local classrooms to encourage students to make getting their high-school diploma the first among their goals. She said she knows how often students only consider immediate happiness, and she wants to help them prepare for the future.

"Whatever you want to do in life, that diploma is going to make it easier," she told students at the Alternative School Monday.

In 1983, Battles was but one and one-half credits short of her graduation requirements because of a medical condition that caused her to miss too many days of class. She didn't know if any exemptions applied to her, and she left school without a diploma.

One day she realized that everything her daughters lacked was a result of her not being able to provide for them. So, in 1991, she decided to complete requirements needed to obtain her diploma. Her efforts were again halted when one of her daughters was in an accident and required 24-hour care.

"I didn't give up, but I had to take care of my daughter," she said. "I just kept telling myself this was something I wanted -- It was something I was going to get for me, not for anybody else."

In 1994, she decided it was time to try again. This time she was successful: In August 1994, at the age of 30, Battles earned her Cape Girardeau Central High School diploma.

"I never knew my mind was as little as it was," said Battle. "I thought everything was about what I wanted to do. But when the partying fades and the dressing fades, you still have to face reality."

Now that she has her diploma, Battle works to achieve her next set of goals. She plans to develop typing and computer skills in adult education classes at the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical school, and hopes to be accepted to the business college of her choice.

"If you are going to school for someone else, as soon as they stop giving you the attention you feel you deserve for going to school, you'll stop going," she told the Alternative School students. "But if you're going for yourself, you'll never stop."

She said never depend on anyone else for determination or motivation, and never let others discourage you.

"When one person has their mind set and is ready to start achieving, and they're hanging with somebody that doesn't, one of two things is going to happen: Either both of you are going to give up or somebody is going to get left behind.

"Encourage yourself. Tell yourself, "'Hey, you're doing good. Keep it up.'"