Congratulations Nazareth's Class of 2011

Editor's Note: Photos taken by Patch photographer Nancy Scholz.

In the fall of 2007, the incoming freshman class was admittedly frightened for what high school had in store. Although that fright had faded by the fall of 2008, the now sophomores still didn't quite fit in. But when junior year rolled around, the title of "upperclassmen" was finally obtained.

And now? Now was June 8, 2011. Graduation day.

“Wow, where did the time go?” Brooke Charlie asked in pure amazement during Nazareth Area High School's 115th commencement ceremony Wednesday night.

As Charlie, the class of 2011's salutatorian, addressed her fellow classmates, school administrators and a crowd of proud friends and families in , she spoke of how life has dramatically changed for the students in last four years.

“Thinking back over these years reminds me of the movie 'The Hangover,'" she said. “We may not remember every moment of these years, but we will know it was good.”

In her lighthearted speech, Charlie used a quote from "Forrest Gump" to sum up life: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

Charlie ended her speech on a sincere note, telling her classmates to make the most of life, no matter where it leads them.

Valedictorian , who plans to major in mathematics with a pre-med track at , took a more scientific approach in his address.

Huynh reminisced about Dow Chemical Company commercials he had seen a few years back. One particular quote stuck out: “Nothing is more fundamental than the human element, nothing more elemental.”

For Huynh, that quote illuminated the idea that the human element is the catalyst for change in the world, and that change can be a positive one. Huyhn challenged his classmates to continue the good work that is being done and to make better what isn’t.

“The choices you have made, and will make, define you,” Huyhn said. “Each one of you is greater than what you are made of.”

Superintendent Victor Lesky spoke in a similar vein of social awareness.

“Tomorrow begins a new chapter in your lives,” Lesky said. “You can’t go back and recreate yesterday, but you can go on and change tomorrow.”

Lesky stressed the importance of collaboration and leadership, but also the importance of accepting the people from around the world they will meet in the course of their lives. 

“Be the first to set the example, and be the leaders you have been at Nazareth,” he said.

Lesky followed his address with a video clip from CBS News about the unlikely friendship of an Asian elephant and a normal, medium-sized dog. The pair were inseparable at the elephant sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

When Bella, the dog, suffered a spinal cord injury, she had to spend three weeks in the sanctuary's office to recuperate.

Meanwhile, Tarra, the elephant, waited outside the office gate, refusing to wander the sanctuary's 2,700 acres. The caregivers eventually began taking Bella to visit with the obviously worried elephant.

After the dog healed, the pair continued their friendship -- Bella even allowing Tarra to pet her belly with her giant elephant foot.

At the conclusion of the video, a reporter's voice said: “Take a good look at this couple, America. Take a good look, world. If they can do it -- what’s our excuse?”

After the screen went dark, Lesky returned to the podium and reiterated that statement.

“If they can do it, we can too."