Misty Evans’ freshman year at Highland Park High School was her last.

She didn’t want to be in the Topeka school. When she was in class, sleeping was the activity of choice.

“It was boring,” said Evans, who dropped out to begin a series of jobs, mostly in the fast-food industry.

But Evans, of Lawrence, finally picked up a high school diploma, earning it on her own terms. She was among about 150 people to complete General Educational Development (GED) exams during the past year at the Lawrence school district’s adult education center. Graduation was Thursday night at Free State High School, with 22 students attending.

“This was great,” Evans said. “I actually learned. I could choose to go, instead of being forced.”

It’s also Evans’ choice to enroll at Johnson County Community College to begin studying for a career as a sign-language interpreter.

Hers is the kind of gritty tale that inspires Leni Salkind, a Lawrence school board member who spoke to graduates.

“The real success stories are those you have created,” Salkind said. “You are our heroes and heroines.”

Some quit high school years ago to earn money to help support a parent and siblings or to start their own family. Some walked away from school because they couldn’t fit in.

But all students in the GED program want to be there. They voluntarily juggle job, family and school to earn a diploma. To obtain scores high enough to earn a GED credential, students must outperform at least 40 percent of U.S. high school seniors on exams in math, writing, social studies, science and reading.

“You’re tenacious,” said Bob Eales, the district’s director of vocational and continuing education. “You did it on your own.”

He could have been speaking directly to Jose Ariguznaga, who dropped out of high school to work as a dishwasher. He needed to earn money to support his mother and sister.

“They are the most important things in my life after God,” he said.

But lack of a basic education ate away at him.

“Yeah, I felt like a loser,” Ariguznaga said.

His outlook has changed through the GED program, and it taught him a lesson he shared with graduates in a commencement speech.

“Do not let the problems of your life stop your dreams,” he said.