DURHAM — The members of the Somersworth High School Class of 2024 trickled into the Whittemore Center in Durham on Friday as the hour of their commencement ceremony drew near. They adjusted their tassels, zipped up their royal blue gowns and made sure their mortarboards, many beautifully decorated, wouldn’t fall off. Hugs were given, photos were taken, laugh were shared.

As they waited, they reflected on what it’s like to be on the verge of turning the next page in their story.

“It’s a new opportunity for me to grow and meet new people, possibly expand my education from here on out,” said Zoe Bisbee-Mellen, who is an artist and is considering going into the arts.

“It was great to meet a lot of good people here. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to learn form really great teachers and people,” she said. “It feels like a fresh beginning. It feels very grown up.”

Riley Barton said she’ll be working on finding a job. “I’m nervous, but excited. This is a big deal and it will be fun.”

“I’m excited. It’s nice to see my hard work pay off,” said Ella Parr, who will be attending West Virginia University to study political science and international business. “It is a big deal. It’s the one night people come to celebrate you.”

Ahmiyah Cook recently got married, and after graduation is moving to Norfolk, Virginia, with her husband who serves in the military. She wants to pursue becoming a flight attendant.

Audrey Labelle, who served as class secretary, will attend Bryant University to study business management. On leaving her high school, she said, “It’s sad, but really exciting. I’ve been here my entire life so I am happy to go somewhere else.”

“I feel real excited,” said Hunaiza Ilyas who will attend Simmons College. The National Honor Society member wants to be a nurse.

“I’m glad it’s over,” said Jovany Senduk. He’ll miss hanging with friends most of all. He’s off to the New Jersey Institute of Technology to study computer science.

“It feels unreal,” said valedictorian David Irot. “It feels like yesterday we were in class on Google Meet during Covid. It’s unreal, but it’s happy.” In the fall, he will attend Boston University to study data science.

School secretary Melanie Benoit helped Brooke Tuthill secure her mortarboard. “I’m nervous, but excited for a new adventure,” Tuthill said. She’s going to the University of New Hampshire  to study music education and hopes to become a middle school band teacher.

“I will miss our class and the close environment here,” she said. “We are all friends with each other.”

Before they knew it, the Class of 2025 marshals Arian Carter and Abygail Lambert were leading them onto the floor of the arena to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” ushering them into the next chapter of their lives.

“It’s OK not to know what’s next,” Somersworth High School Principal Christopher Tebo said in his welcome address. Giving his advice for living life, he told the soon-to-be graduates, “Prioritize the people you love, those you already know and people you haven’t met yet. Those relationships are the most important thing. Make time for them.”

He thanked the Class of 2024’s adviser Julie Turgeon for her years of working with the class and he asked the teachers in attendance who had taught the class members “from preschool on up” to stand and be recognized with the students’ applause.

Class President Owen O’Brien remembered the beginning of their high school experience in the fall of 2020 when they were all at home studying virtually, going to class on Google Meet and celebrating drive-by birthdays. “We were locked up inside, but somehow we grew closer than ever,” he said.

“The thing is we all pulled through,” he said. Referring to their senior year, he said, “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. We all struggle, but that struggle held us together.”

O’Brien went on to thank everyone who supported the class over the years, including the custodians and the lunch ladies.

Salutatorian Logan Stoddard expressed his admiration for “how far we have come.”

“As for me, I don’t know what will happen, but I’m willing to make the most of it. Will you?” he asked his classmates at the end of his address.

Irot, the valedictorian, reflected on the passage of time in his address, noting their 720 days of high school, which equates to 5,760 hours.

“Time itself moves funnily in high school,” Itor said. “Time flies, eight hours feel like a minute.”

More: Meet Somersworth High School’s top 10 students in Class of 2024

“Don’t live a mundane life where a minute feels like an hour,” he advised his classmates. “Live a life where an hour feels like a minute.”

Commencement speaker Derek LaBrie knew the class and their high school years well, praising them for how they rebuilt the school’s community after being apart during the pandemic.

“Build community around you wherever you go,” he said, noting that might be workmates or roommates or a golf foursome. “Community looks different everywhere. Seek it out and hold onto it.”

Somersworth High School Class of 2024

NakayLyn Ann-Marrie Akerman

Ashley Pamela Aldebot

Riley Melissa Barton

Matthew J Bayko

Kaden James Bickford

Zoe Alexis Bisbee-Mellen

Kassidy Paige Bonsaint

Adrian Marie Brailsford

Shauna E Breitmaier

Karter William-James Brogan

Madison Leigh Brogan

Adam Warren Brown

Olivia Halliday Brown

Cheyanne Nichole Brushwood

Adric Butler

Shelby “Sace” Marie Caton

Ahmiyah Marie Cook

Dylan Brian Cossette

Ethan J Cote

Sienna Ella Crane

Guerino Nicholas Cristallo

Sophia Grace Day

Nicolas Delgado

Tien Thi Cam Doan

Graci Amour Doyon

Cameron Scott Dubois

Hailey Renee German

Luke Michael Glaeser

Eric Aaron Goodrich

Giovanni Cannon Green

Amani J Guillory

Quin E Haines

Shawn Michael Harriman

Emma Grace Hudon

Hunaiza Safa Ilyas

David V Irot

Iqbal Faisal Karim

Lukas Myer Kelly

Rachel Amanda Khoe

Audrey B LaBelle

Hannah Elizabeth Laughton

Nathan Francis Leahy

Selena Marie Malo

Lilah Kristen Marshall

Kezia Mackenzie Mawikere

Jade Abrielle McGowan

Shakeila Yendi Miller

Carter W Morgan

Teagan Jeannette Myers

Dillon Newbanks

Zachary William Noyce

Owen Peter O’Brien

Tasha Kay O’Neil

Ella Francis Parr

Jenish Jitendrakumar Patel

Hailey Nicole Patrakis

Leah Lexa Pena

Jaden M Penney

Logan Michael Perreault

Lauren Nicole Pflanz

Trevor R Richer

Tyler James Riese

Jovany David Wilson Senduk

Tayshawn Antione Sheppard

Spencer William Stacewicz

Logan G Stoddard

Elijah O Sublette

Davian Elijah Sykes

Evan O Talley

Parker R Talley

Joseph P Tibbetts

Jaiden Fayette Timmons-Williams

Jonathan Tristan Tjoa

Brooke Elizabeth Tuthill

John Paul Welch

Jazmine West

Elijah J Wheeler

Lindsey K Whiteman

Kyle M Wilbur

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Somersworth High School 2024 graduates: ‘We all pulled through’