Disbelief, relief and a sense of long awaited freedom were the feelings of some Scarborough graduates in a back room at Merrill Auditorium. Backpacks were tossed on tables, teachers patrolled with trash cans seeking gum chewers and the students anxiously awaited the call to march up the stairs to the stage.

Scarborough’s class of 2006 graduated Sunday, some students finishing up only hours before the ceremony began. As Principal Andrew Dolloff said before turning the stage over to the yo-yo skills of Dana Bennett, the last of the 232 graduates had completed the requirements as of just 4:30 that afternoon.

As the graduates moved through the chaotic back room to line up, some couldn’t quite believe it was all coming to an end.

“After four years of jail, we’re done!” yelled Adam Mitchell, arms in the air, nearly knocking off his marching partner’s cap.

Danielle Robichaud was relieved to be done with high school, though couldn’t quite get over that graduation had actually arrived.

“After four years, I can’t believe it’s here. I couldn’t wait anymore to be done,” she said.

None of them had to wait much longer. Minutes later Class President Kristen Buckley welcomed an audience that filled Merrill to the top row. Though a few graduates couldn’t believe they were up on the brightly lighted stage, Buckley spoke about the disbelief of another group – the parents.

“Tonight is not only a night for the graduates, but for the parents as well,” said Buckley. “I’m sure our parents are sitting there in complete disbelief that their oldest child is graduating.”

The graduates may have been the center of attention, but the parents, friends and family members received much of the praise.

Valedictorian Nicole Gonyea chose to reference Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince,” calling her mother the guiding star in her life.

“She was my star at 4 years old, and she will continue to be my star in my darkest hours.”

Gonyea reminded her classmates that, though they are all different, they have all found their personal stars that helped them get to this moment.

She also urged everyone to keep his or her personal stars in mind as high school is left behind, saying, “We must all remember the people of our past because they will shape who we will be in the future.”

In Marita O’Neill’s faculty address she added to Gonyea’s idea of how the graduates should face their future. “Remember that change begins with imagination,” said O’Neill. “Imagine the life you would like to live and then create it.”

O’Neill advised the class to believe in themselves and their work, and to never lose hope when faced with impossible tasks. She told them that everything they do matters – from working to studying in college and traveling abroad.

“If every person on stage touches 100 people, that’s over 2,000 people you’ve changed,” she said, encouraging the class of 2006 to put everything into whatever it is they choose to do.

Salutatorian Seana Bamford believes that what, exactly, they choose is still far from decided. “We’re 18 years old,” said Bamford. “We have absolutely no idea what we want. Just be happy with what you have without worrying about the future. All we can know is the here and now and that should be enough.”