Jones County High’s first-ever commencement exercises in the 4,078-seat Georgia College and State University Centennial Center in Milledgeville this past Saturday evening brought about recollections of past, present, and future from its four class orators.

Salutatorian Mariah Smith offered an offbeat welcome to all those in attendance, shedding graduation speech conventions by replacing the typical use of famous quotations with the recitation of popular lyrics from some of her favorite musical artists.

Drawing from acts such as Kool and the Gang, Journey, and Pink Floyd, she advised her fellow graduates to, “Celebrate good times,” “Don’t stop believin’,” and remember that, “All and all it’s just another brick in the wall.”

She also poked fun at the Jones County High faculty present with the added advice: “Hey, teachers, leave those kids alone!”

Mellisa Martinez, the fourth-ranked senior, began her speech by appealing to the audience.

“I’m sure many of you here in the audience can recall the day when one of these purple-gowned miracles was brought into this world,” Martinez said.

She recalled the journey of some 300-plus graduates in fulfilling their dreams and setting new goals.

“All around are students who will reach new possibilities and adventure to where no generation has gone before,” she said. “Our class will bring advances in technology, expansions in medicine, and revelations of the mysteries the world holds.”

Stephanie Gabbard, the third-ranked senior, focused on what is to come for the graduation class, as she challenged its members to look beyond the 3:15 p.m. bell to end eighth period.

She quoted Mahatma Ghandi in saying, “The future depends upon what we do in the present.”

She emphasized personal decision-making as she and her classmates leave the sheltered environment of teachers and parents.

“Now is a time to be fully awake in regards to what you want in life and use your talents to their full potential,” Gabbard said.

Valedictorian Anna Darnell rounded out the orations with a detailed look at the life stories of each of the graduates.

She inspired recollections of the past, from the moments they were born to their first words to preschool graduation, elementary school science experiments, and middle school hairstyle changes.

She continued on to high school, “The freshman experience, the humble acceptance of sophomore status, the junior-year standardized tests, and the year of senior privileges—all of these things were yours.”

Past this remembrance, Darnell pointed out the one commonality in all of these events: the invaluable influence of others.

She proceeded to thank God, family, friends, all Jones County school faculty, staff, and administration, and finally, her classmates.

“Thank you for the tears and the laughter, the sighs and the smiles, and the memories we share of growing up together. We owe it to each other to do our very best in the years to come,” Darnell said.

Following Darnell’s speech, the graduates were presented by Jones County High principal Chuck Gibson and diplomas were awarded by Jones County School Superintendent Jim LeBrun.

The ceremony was shorter than in years past, ending in close to an hour and a half.

The shorter distance from the holding area to the seating area for the faculty and graduates made for a quicker processional, and the lone change adopted to the order of service this year was the elimination of a recessional.

After class vice president Mary Carlyn Womack announced, “Class dismissed!,” the graduates tossed their caps into the air and were either joined by family and friends on the floor or went up into the stands to be with their loved ones.

Some 23 members of the class of 2009 were listed in the program as receiving scholarships or awards that would aid them in their post-secondary educational pursuits.

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