"She's here, she's here," students whispered excitedly to each other as Diana DeGarmo entered the room in her flashy heels, coyly cocking her head to the side and smiling broadly to more than 50 students who gathered after school to see her.

DeGarmo, runner-up to winner Fantasia Barrino on American Idol's third season, is in San Jose playing Maria in American Musical Theatre of San Jose's production of West Side Story.

Westmont High School drama teacher Jeff Bengford brought 45 students to see DeGarmo perform in early November. After the show, while making sure the students got home safely, Bengford ran into DeGarmo's mother, Brenda. Bengford asked her if DeGarmo would be willing to speak to his drama students while she was in town. Her mother agreed.

At 18, DeGarmo is an example of how young talent can succeed in today's competitive world of entertainment. In some ways, the students had much in common with their glitzy visitor. Like DeGarmo, the students are familiar with long hours of rehearsal and the bonds formed with performers and crew.

But for DeGarmo, a Georgia native, performing has been part of her life since she was 5. By high school, DeGarmo was participating in pageants and talent shows such as NBC's America's Most Talented Kid. In 2003, only days after she turned 16, DeGarmo auditioned for American Idol in Hawaii. Auditioning and performing in the show, she said, was grueling work.

"You're always going, 24 hours a day," she said.

In June 2004, DeGarmo turned 17, released her first single, Dreams, and was preparing to tour with American Idol. She kept up with school through tutors and online classes.

"I missed my senior homecoming and I was a little sad about that," she said.

DeGarmo graduated from high school this year and one Westmont student asked DeGarmo whether she planned to pursue her career or go to college. DeGarmo told the students she will focus on her career, consider other musical theater opportunities and recording another album. She does hope to attend school in the future, she said.

The students asked her a bevy of questions: Did she have a boyfriend? No. Does she have any preshow rituals? Yes, she said, she warms up her voice, drinks one-quarter cup of coffee, one whole cup of tea with lots of honey, lights a white candle and says a prayer before going on stage.

Before leaving, DeGarmo hugged students, posed and autographed photographs.

"Don't stop because someone tells you 'no,'" DeGarmo told the class. "I didn't win American Idol and I'm doing great."