For the members of the Westbrook High School class of 2005, Sunday’s graduation was a time to look back at their school years and look forward to the future.

Portland’s Merrill Auditorium was full to the top balcony with family and friends as the seniors marched in to cheers, the flashing of hundreds of cameras and the sound of the traditional graduation march “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Senior Class President Adam Roy welcomed everyone to graduation by looking back at the road the senior class took to get to the stage at Merrill Auditorium. “The road to graduation is long for everyone,” Roy said. “We can all recall late nights of cramming for finals, or finishing that research paper at the last minute that we had three months to do, or for some of us, just lying awake praying we’d pass that one last class so we could graduate. It’s all over now, though. We made it.”

Roy said now that high school is behind them, the class of 2005 now has the opportunity to go out into the world and make the best of their future, even if that prospect does seem scary. “Moving onto the real world is frightening for some,” said Roy. “During these past years of schooling one of our biggest challenges was to find ourselves, but now, our new challenge is what to make of ourselves. Our future is in our hands. It becomes what we make of it.”

Maine Principals’ Association Award winner Andrew Cutter said the class had many people to thank for helping them get through school to graduation. “We all know there are many people to thank for this day,” Cutter said. “These people guided us through our education to date and provided the inspiration and motivation that we needed to succeed.”

After a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” from seniors Gretchen Carroll and Breanna Dupras and a musical selection from the senior members of the high school brass choir, Honor Essayist Tyler Johnson spoke about lessons he learned outside the classroom.

Johnson spoke of his experiences volunteering with a youth program helping the homeless in New York City. He said the experiences he had in New York helped open his mind and helped him accept others despite their differences.

“We must remember that we are the sum total of all our learning, not just to be measured by the grades our teachers have given us,” said Johnson. “What we learned in the Westbrook schools was only a beginning. Each of us must go beyond the pages of the books we’ve read, the exams we’ve taken and the papers written to discover the greater lessons life teaches us.”

Salutatorian Marcus Ziemann drew a laugh when he admitted he was reluctant to speak at the ceremony. “Now, first off, I’m not a fan of long speeches,” said Ziemann. “So this one will be fairly short and, I hope, witty, because as (Shakespeare) would have it, ‘brevity is the soul of wit.'”

Ziemann said he felt humor was an important key to success in life. “One of the most important things that I’ve learned is that it’s absolutely necessary to have a sense of humor,” said Ziemann. “It’ll carry you through nearly every tense situation. Being able to make a joke at your own expense is important as well. Don’t take yourself so seriously, you’re not perfect, and there has to be some quirk about you that you can share with others to make them laugh.”

Valedictorian Karla Schultz told her classmates to find a passion in life and to take steps to ensure they are successful rather than just dreaming of success.

“It is infinitely easier to dream a heroic fantasy than to live an ordinary reality,” Schultz said. “Dreaming has its place. It is a quiet sanctuary in which the weary mind seeks restoration. Yet it is not strong enough to grow into its old tree. So I plead to you, make your presence known in this world, and make us smile when we think of you.”

Before distributing the diplomas, Principal Marc Gousse addressed the class as their principal for one last time. Gousse told the class he was proud of their accomplishments and wished them nothing but the best for the future. “It is the hope of everyone here today that your pathway may be straight and true and that your destination may be paved with happiness and vibrant promise,” said Gousse.

Gousse told the class he felt their futures were bright with promise for success. “My hope is that each one of you leave today with the knowledge that your education has been strongly influenced and framed by the love and guidance of your parents, family, teachers, counselors, coaches, advisors and community,” said Gousse. “Go forward, accomplish your goals and above all, become productive and contributing members of our society.”

After Gousse finished speaking to the class, he took the time to remember one member of the senior class who tragically, was not at graduation. Gousse called for a moment of silence in memory of Alanna Phillips-Crocker, who died unexpectedly on May 20.

After the moment of silence, Phillips-Crocker’s parents, Kevin Crocker and Sandra Phillips came to the stage to accept their daughter’s high school diploma. The senior class led the rest of the auditorium in a standing ovation for Phillips and Crocker as they accepted the diploma accompanied by hugs and handshakes from Gousse, Superintendent Stan Sawyer and other school officials.

Following that moment, it was time for the rest of the class to receive their diplomas. And a short time later, the class of 2005, diplomas in hand marched out of Merrill Auditorium newly minted high school graduates with their future spread out before them.

Seniors (pictured from left) Amy Swanson, Katelyn Chapman, Kara Taliento, Heather Bailey get ready to enter Merrill Auditorium for their graduation on Sunday.Honor Essayist Tyler Johnson listens to Salutatorian Marcus Ziemann speak at the Westbrook High graduation at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday.The Westbrook High School class of 2005 on stage at PortlandSchool Committee member Don Perkins hugs his daughter Rosemary Perkins after presenting her with her high school diploma on Sunday.School officials greet Kevin Crocker and Sandra Phillips as they accept their daughter Alanna Phillips-Crocker