by Julie M. Fidler
UACCB Freelance Writer
BATESVILLE - Known to her closest friends simply as "Smurf," Forlanda Peel of Newport was inspired by a police officer friend to go back to school and study criminal justice. Peel just completed her first semester as a student at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.
She's gone from managing a convenience store to hitting the books, hoping to become a paralegal and help children. The mother of two, Peel gets up every morning, drops off her daughters at school and heads to Batesville for her own classes.
Peel finished the spring semester with a 3.5 grade point average and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society at the college. She decided to attend UACCB for a "challenge."
"I felt, if I went at ASU-Newport, it wouldn't be a challenge for me," she said. "To be able to get up and leave Newport, and travel to Batesville, make it here on time, be here every day - that's a challenge for me."
Peel credits her best friend, police officer Carl Schlotzhauer (whom she calls "Coleslaw"), for her returning to school after 16 years. "He's a cop for Newport, and I love him to death," she said. "He asked me, 'Why don't you just go to school and do something in criminal justice?' I did, and now, he keeps on me the whole time."
She said her friend is always there to help and encourage her. Peel was assistant manager at a Newport convenience store when a co-worker dubbed her "Smurf." She says, "It was at the hands of Cathy Jeffries. I have no idea where she came up with it, but it stuck."
Peel said she never expected to be an honor student. "It's outstanding to me," she said. "It also proves to younger generations it can be done. Regardless of what anybody thinks about you, or what anybody says about you, it can be done."
Each morning, Peel gets her daughters ready just in time to drive to school in Batesville. "I'm usually out before my 8-year-old gets out of school, so it balances out pretty well," she said.
The faculty and staff at UACCB are very supportive, said Peel. She is taking a full class load of 12 hours. "The student success center here is awesome," she said, praising instructor Vanita Cartwright.
A 1993 Newport High School graduate, Peel says she would encourage anyone considering going back to school. "Do it," she said. "Don't let anything stop you. This has been the best experience of my life, coming back to college. I love it here. It sounds like a huge challenge, like no one can do it. It's possible. Anything you work toward, you should be able to get."
She thought of quitting at times. "I went to Ms. (Glenda) Bell and Ms. (Susan) Beshears one time in tears," said Peel. "I thought about just quitting because I have a lot of different things going on right now. Ms. Bell said, 'Don't quit, whatever you do.'"
Bell teaches Basic Writing, Fundamentals of Writing, Reading Improvement and Strategies for College Success. Beshears is the chair of the division of arts and humanities. She teaches English Composition I, English Composition II, World Literature I, World Literature II and American Literature II.
Peel is paying for her education with assistance through financial aid. "When I was in high school, the last thing I was concerned about was my GPA and showing up for class," she said. "I didn't care. To be able to come to school, sit in class and have students ask me now, 'How do you do this?' or 'Can I get your help?' - that makes me feel like I'm home here."
Peel and her husband, Pelvin, have two children, Brianna, 8, and Delashia, 16.
