The Goshen High School Class of 2015 stepped into their new life as high school graduates on Thursday.

“This journey has finally brought us to the night that we have anticipated,” Hearing our names being called, shaking Mr. Major Lane’s hand and getting that hard-earned diploma,” said Ramesh Bell, senior class president, as he addressed the graduates. “Thank you so much in helping us celebrate our achievement.”

Salutatorian Dakota Anderson stressed to his fellow classmates that while they had been taught all their lives that these had been the best days of their lives, the best was still yet to come.

“Throughout elementary school we were told that our lives would peak in a place barely a mile down the road,” Anderson said. “Many of us had seen this high school before and with every look a sense of anticipation grew. And many of us heard some great stories from siblings past … However, I believe the best years of our lives, while these were great, the best years are ahead of us.”

Tyler Phillips, valedictorian and Jordan Bryant Scholarship Award winner, told his fellow graduates that this was a time to reflect on the past and all who had helped to influence their lives and the journey that was high school.

“It’s been a long four years, but here we are ready to graduate,” Phillips said. “We’ve worked hard to get to this point, but we didn’t do it by ourselves. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to a number of people here at GHS.”

Phillips thanked Goshen teachers, parents, coaches, faculty and staff and, most of all, Phillips thanked his parents and other family members for the support they had given him over the years.

Donned in their purple and gold, the each Eagle senior walked across the stage to accept their ticket into the future as Lane switched their tassels from the right to the left signifying their great accomplishments in graduating high school.

Ansley Jordan, who will be attending Enterprise State Community College in the fall, said she was still trying to find her tassel after the traditional cap toss.

“I am so excited,” Jordan said. “I’m still about to cry. The whole time I was trying not to cry while I was sitting down, so it’s just very exciting. What I’m going to remember the most was the whole class just really bonding together. We had our ups and downs, but like tonight we are just all one big family.”