Angela Viles

August 2011

Angela Viles

When Angela Viles was hired as a team leader at Goodwill’s Greenwood Store in May 2011, she didn’t anticipate becoming a high school graduate by the end of summer.

“I knew I could go and take a test for my GED, but it costs money, and quite frankly, I wanted my diploma.”

Angela was close to graduating from high school 10 years ago and still dreamed of a diploma. She heard about the public charter high school for adults early on in her experience at Goodwill.

“I always did my work, but then I met the man of my dreams when I was a senior, so I got married in high school, and I did government as homeschooling so I could finish. To make a long story short, the homeschooling lady that took my stuff misplaced my last assignment and told me that I wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle, but I could still take my last test and get my diploma. I was really naive and pretty stupid at that age, and I was so mad that I couldn’t walk down the aisle that I just stopped. So I really hurt myself in that decision.”

When Angela met with staff at The Excel Center, she learned she needed to complete her government requirement along with a second geometry credit. After what she describes as a “long month” of working 40 hours a week, managing her household, caring for her two children and nephew, and studying, her dream came true.

“It just means everything. It was haunting me not having my diploma – for 10 years, really.”

Angela graduated from The Excel Center in July 2011. She now is enrolled in classes at Ivy Tech to help her explore her interests, and for the first time, Angela, whose career has focused on retail or being a stay-at-home mom, is weighing her future options.

“It’s just a really good feeling to progress in life and to move up and not just be that lady sitting a home with her kids – having goals. The sky’s the limit.”

Video: Meet Angela