The Mustangs' Class of 2016 faced many challenges, both personal and shared, but on Friday, the 353 graduating seniors of C. Milton Wright High School were gathered for one last time, ready to walk across the stage and move on from school.
The class dealt with "seemingly insurmountable difficulties" and the challenge of illnesses and losses, Principal Michael Thatcher told the students, relatives and friends who filled the APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College.
"I will miss greeting you at the front door and brightening my day," Thatcher said.
Senior class vice-president Matthew Treusdell, meanwhile, said: "We may be the first class in C. Milton Wright to actually lose money... I started to believe our prom would have to be held in the cafeteria due to lack of funds."
The class nevertheless "pulled together one of the best comebacks" and was able to present a gift of lettering that reads "Home of the Mustangs" that will be above the school's entrance, Treusdell said, adding he is proud to be part of "such an amazing group of people."
Valedictorian Lucas Valdes, who has a GPA above 4.0 and plans to attend Dartmouth College, reminded his classmates that passion might be more important than talent.
While "most people assume I am most proud of my academic record," Valdes explained he focused on other strengths in his college essays.
"I wasn't proud of what I was best at but what I worked hardest for," he said. Valdes also questioned what he called the "look at me" culture, where many people focus on making themselves look good.
"You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do," he said, quoting writer David Foster Wallace.
Senior class president Aidan McKenzie said his class saw major national events, like "riots in Ferguson, Mo., that threatened to tear the nation apart" and the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that "love is love," referring to same-sex marriage being legalized.
Despite a joke that the class was being released "from a 12-year sentence," McKenzie said "the staff here really is amazing" and he considers many of them not just teachers but friends.
The class also accomplished plenty, including having "the only prom in at least the last five years to have no one kicked out," McKenzie joked, getting a loud round of applause from the stadium.
Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, who has been focused on building a "government more like your smartphone," warned the graduates that technology can harm as much as it helps.
About graduation, he said: "As much as I love technology, my challenge to you is not to tweet it, not to Facebook it, not to blog it, but to look someone in the eye, take their hand and thank them."
"The world needs your voice, not the 140 characters printed in a tweet or in a message to your friends," Glassman said.
He also reminded them: "Harford County loves you and you always have a home here in Harford County."
County Councilman Pat Vincenti told the class: "Remember to carry on Harford County's long tradition and history of giving back when you can."
Several students waiting in Harford Community College's arena before the ceremony said leaving school felt surreal.
"It doesn't feel real. It feels like a big step," Ally Page said. After graduation, "I think it will hit me that I don't have to come back to high school anymore."
She plans to study psychology at Harford Community College, along with Madison Doonan, who said about graduation: "I'm excited to experience the world and go to college."
Page called C. Milton Wright "a good school. When it comes down to it, everyone bonds. You make a lot of lifetime friends and a lot of memories."
Christian Puckett, who plans to study psychology at Harford Community College, also said leaving school had not hit him yet.
"It's a miracle that we are finally leaving. Throughout your whole life, it's all you know," he said.
He was standing with Jacob Umerley and Travis Stewart, both of whom plan to study computer science.
"We are finally free," Umerley said. "You can do anything you want."
Henry Johnson Jr. said high school "was a really defining part of me," explaining it helped him get to know himself as a person. He said he did "a lot of things" at C. Milton Wright, including run track and cross country, and plans to pursue chemistry at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
"I am excited, honestly," he said about graduation.