Manassas Park High School seniors lined up along the hallway outside the school's gymnasium Saturday night, some fiddling with their tassels and others chatting with their neighbors.
As "Pomp and Circumstance" began to play, they cheered the school faculty members as they marched by.
Then it was the students' turn to get some praise, with family and friends standing to applaud the class of 2008 graduates.
Principal Tracy Shaver commended the class for their academic and athletic achievements through the years, while Debra Steelman, the senior class president, and salutatorian Alfred Ramirez thanked those who helped them through their 13 years of education and wished their fellow classmates luck in their future endeavors.
Valedictorian Jacob Frazier, who earned a 4.438 GPA, was feeling under the weather and did not attend the cere-mony; he left a speech for a faculty member to read on his behalf.
"I want each of you, including myself, to put all of life's hardships and negativity aside, and look at our achievements," Cindy Watson read from his speech.
"Whether you are a successful plumber, a … stay-at-home mom or a top-notch neurosurgeon, you are con-tributing to our community, our world, whether you know it or not. Never underestimate your achievement, because it's not the destination, but the journey that defines us."
And the key speaker, associate superintendent Ritchie Carroll, told the class that success is out there for each of them, they just need the will to go out and seize it.
Before the start of the program, 18-year-old Crystal Kaczor expressed her thrill in leaving high school be-hind.
"I'm getting out of this town, finally," said Kaczor, who will attend the Massachusetts College of Art in the fall and already has an apartment in Boston waiting for her. "If you stay here too long, you get trapped."
Some of the other 121 graduates also plan to attend college, while others will enter the workforce or join the mili-tary.
Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.
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