SACO  — The 380 members of the Thornton Academy Class of 2018 assembled at Hill Stadium on Sunday’s graduation ceremony to celebrate the end of their high school career and embrace a new beginning.

“High school graduation is a true milestone. It often marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood,” said Headmaster Rene Menard. “It’s a mark of where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished at this point in your life. But it is also a marker signifying that the journey ahead has just begun.”

Menard told the students that the journey ahead will be exciting, difficult at times, and often predictable, but the people back home will be rooting for them.

“We have high hopes and great expectations for every single one of you,” he said. He said every one of the students will be successful in their own way, and he urged them to stay connected to Thornton.

“Remember that wherever you go, you’ll always be a part of our community,” said Menard.

Valedictorian Vincent Falardeau told students to take a moment to consider the mixed emotions that come with graduation.

“I think that many of us have been so caught up in the whirlwind of these busy weeks that we’ve hardly had time to feel the significance of what is happening,” he said. Take time to reminisce fondly over the memories we, the class of 2018 have made. Take time to let your heart break with this parting of ways, with the goodbyes that inevitably put the bitter in bittersweet. Take time to be excited, looking ahead with optimism to the opportunities that await us. Take time to let the uncertainty of an indeterminate future crystalize into questions that can be asked, then given answers.”

Falardeau told his fellow classmates that the ability to let go and detach as they navigate the daunting and confusing years ahead will be essential. He told them to feel the sadness of parting with friends, but don’t remain unhappy, and feel the excitement and the pride of the moment, but don’t feel sad when the magic wears off.

“We’ve all had different experiences here. Some of you don’t want to leave, some of you can’t wait to get out, but how you feel doesn’t take away from what we’ve gone through together and how it’s made us the united class of 2018,” said Class speaker John Webb.

Webb said high school has gone by quickly, and the past four years, Thornton Academy had been their home, where they learned teamwork, commitment and to appreciate the little things.

“We’ve gone through these experiences together, and as we go through the hug line today, saying our final goodbyes, some people we may never see again, please take a moment and think about the times we’ve had together, the faces you’ve seen, and the people who have impacted you over the course of these four years,” said Webb.

English teacher Caryn Ford, the chosen faculty speaker, told students they’d all worked hard to get where they are today.

“Your safety net of being in high school is gone. Go into this world and make us proud,” she said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.