Loyalsock Township High School graduates were reminded to "hold on to that feeling," as they reflected on the past four years at Friday night's 51st commencement ceremony.
As class president Dylan Casale walked to the podium to give his address, Tess Marshall, graduating senior, began singing the Journey song, "Don't stop believing."
Casale and the rest of the graduates soon joined in on the rendition of the hit song.
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MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette
Loyalsock Township High School graduates throw their caps in the air as Friday night’s commencement at the school’s football field concluded.
As the ceremony continued, three students speakers explained different parts of the school day to go along with the ceremony's theme, "Days Between Summer."
"Hopefully we have all cherished our mornings, afternoons and nights here at Loyalsock," Casale said.
Lindsay Myers -later named Salutatorian - explained that mornings and families are alike. She said although both can be at times "extremely irritating," they have helped her on her path. Family has played a large role in her development.
"The truth is without mother figures most of us would be lost," Myers said.
Fathers have been known to embarrass students with their dancing and singing, but also taught them lessons about life.
"He taught us the meaning of hard work," she said.
Megan Young, graduate, spoke about the school day. Although most school days are about the same, some were different and allowed the students to grow.
"It's on these days that we became individuals," Young said.
She said the class also made a name for itself with their support of all district events.
"No matter where we go, our class is known for our school spirit," she said.
And as the students embark on the next stage in life, Young reminded them that they always will have a family in their classmates.
"No matter how our lives unfold, we will always belong to our Lancer family," she concluded.
Valedictorian Shannon Cantor, explained nights were when the students built relationships and memories. She said time spent at Dunkin Donuts and Sheetz may have been wastes of time and money, but she wouldn't take them back.
"What counts is who you go with," she said. "The only thing we have that lasts is these relationships."
Lawrence Lessig, 1979 graduate and Professor at Harvard Law School, told graduates that their next steps will be "do-overs" of the last four years.
"Just about every important experience happened here first," he said. "Everything from now on is a do-over of those four years."
And although they can accomplish a lot, Lessig said it is not an easy world they are going into.
"This is a tougher world than the one I stepped into in 1979," he said.
Experiencing the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and feeling the effects of a down economy are some things the class will need to persevere through. He admitted they have work to do.
"It's time for you to roll your eyes at what we've done and do it over," Lessig said. "America needs, desperately needs, the do-over that you will bring."
