On Saturday, June 8, the Class of 2013 entered the gymnasium as students of East Noble High School for the last time. They processed in led by the school’s leaders, with bittersweet feelings. They were feelings of relief, accomplishment, and success, with a tinge of heaviness at leaving behind what was their life for the past four years. At East Noble, the seniors made some of their closest friends, took some of their hardest classes, and became involved in clubs and sports that shaped them into the bright students they are today. These memories were not forgotten as they took their seats, surrounded by their classmates and almost 3,500 of everyone’s family and friends.

In the fist seat of the seating arrangement was Benjamin Tackett, Class of 2013 Valedictorian, followed by Lake Clark, the Salutatorian. Next were the class officers, Tom Woenker, Brooke Campbell, Meghan Sayles, and Emily Aungst, who each of which made a speech, with the exception of Woenker, concerning their class and their journey over the years. In between the speeches,  a choir, made up of the class’s best voices sang the song “For Good” by Stephen Schwartz , a song about the impact of people’s lives on others.

Another major event was the lighting ceremony, in which each student lit their candle with another’s until the entire class had a burning flame. During this time they watched as a slideshow was presented of each of the students and their pictures as a baby or toddler. Soon after, the presentation of the Senior Class began. Principal Steve Peterson listed off each of the graduating students, one by one. They proceeded to the stage where they received a diploma, several handshakes, and a picture.  Applause was to be held until the end, but with each name called, shouts and clapping could be heard from individual families all over the gymnasium.

Once all students were once again seated, the tassel ceremony began. The graduates moved the tassels on the caps from left to right, representing the step from high school students to adults entering the world with a solid foundation behind them. Smiles could be seen throughout the gym from the parents, relatives, school officials, and especially the students as they neared the end of the commencement. With a final statement from Mr. Peterson, confetti was popped into the air and the gymnasium erupted into applause for the graduates.

The seniors were no longer seniors, but adults, and as they proceeded from the gym, they entered the world apart from high school.