On a beautiful sunlit afternoon, the seniors of Mineola High School gathered together to share some time and some words of wisdom before they set forth on their way toward the future.

Salutatorian Trisha Youn delivered a message from her life and shared with the students the benefits of working toward goals. Valedictorian Virginia Nicolai advised her fellow students, "Be your own person."

Along with pearls of wisdom came a healthy dose of reflection, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Harry Jaroslaw noted the many hours of work that were put into the education of these students and the celebration of this day.

As part of the school that impacted on these students, Principal Jay Lewis spoke from experience explaining to the students that this ceremony signified the next stages of their lives. Mineola Board of Education president Gia Lynn Hall advised the students, "Embrace opportunity and knowledge, that way you will be prepared for the future."

Once the ceremonies were over, the messages sent, the caps flew into the air, and the students of Mineola set forth on their exciting journey to a bright and promising future.