It seems graduation is once again upon us. This Saturday 138 Webster City High School seniors will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

There will be an abundance of speeches by faculty and students ready to encourage individuals for their next phase in life. There will be music, accolades and some tears shed (whether the tears are shed by parents or students is up for debate).

Graduation is normally an emotional time for grads and parents alike, so seniors, take it easy on your parents this week. Grant your parents the extra pictures and longer-than-usual hugs.

Embrace these fleeting moments with your classmates. Speaking from experience it may be awhile before you see many of them again.

After Sunday’s ceremony, some students will head towards four-year universities. Others will attend two-year community colleges. A handful of graduates will enter the Armed Forces or the workforce.

Whatever path each student chooses to embark upon, they will be able to take the skills they learned at Webster City High School with them where ever they go.

I have been lucky enough to see many WCHS educators in action.

I’ve seen Amanda Nichols and Ben Jass develop teaching skills, inclusion and compassion in the classroom.

Katie Sonsalla has managed to not only teach Spanish to high school students, but has taken the time to work with younger grades in the district as well.

Thanks to Peer PE, I got to see a whole new side of students and Catherine Schroeder.

I’ve witnessed Andrew Wotherspoon, Cinnamon Kleeman and Rachel Daum influence students through music.

Agricultural education has continued to grow at Webster City thanks to Kurt Veldhuizen and Danika Klaver.

I’ve had the privilege of covering a large amount of events at the high school. On each occasion, I saw teachers anxious and excited for their students to learn and experience new things. Better yet, I saw students eager to learn and gaining real-life skills.

I’ve even learned a few things along the way.

To all the teachers at Webster City High School and within the district, thank you for the time and effort you have put into students over the past 12 years.

It is obvious to me that you have all had an impact the Class of 2017.

To the Class of 2017: May you have unlimited adventures as you head out into the world.

I encourage you all to seize the opportunities that come your way and to work hard for the opportunities that don’t come as easily. The best things in life come from effort, hard work and passion.

Embrace your new found freedom, but remember with choices come consequences.

And for those of you who don’t quite have everything figured out yet, that’s okay! Things always have a way of working out.

Class of 2017, the world is at the tips of your fingers. As you move forward, remember the steps you took in life and the people who helped you get here and use that motivation to propel you into the next stage of life.