Graduations come and go every year, and each and every time, you hear the same thing — how this grad class is the most special ever.
Certainly, every graduating class at a smaller school, such as Vauxhall, has its positives and negatives, and things it will be remembered for.
But now, with high school soon to be a distant memory for the current crop of Grade 12s, the challenge for them becomes much, much more real.
Many will move far away from home, in pursuit of post-secondary studies and careers and dreams some will attain and inevitably, some will not.
Others will stick close to home, perhaps take over the family farm or business, or continue to work in a selected field.
But make no mistake, Vauxhall high school will have prepared them for their future endeavours — now it is up to the graduates to take responsibility for their collective destiny.
The real world is a much different place, free from the supervision of parents, teachers who ensure work is done on time and  the small-town togetherness many have grown up with their entire lives.
Challenges will be everywhere, and it is up to the graduates to respond, and in turn, represent their community, their school and themselves the best way possible.
Big fish in high school quickly become swallowed up in the expansive halls of university and college, and how quickly one adapts can make all the difference in the world in that first year.
But beyond that, every class has an opportunity to do something special, achieve a set of goals and in general, make the world a better place. That, in short, should be the goal of any graduating class.
So, as this year’s Grade 12 grads go their separate ways in just over a month, let’s hope they can make a difference, both collectively and individually.