FREEPORT — With the floor and bleachers of the Freeport High School gymnasium packed with proud family members and friends, the senior class of 2012 marched under the arbor and into their places at the front of the room. Sunday’s ceremony celebrated the graduation of 115 students, 81 percent of whom are enrolled in college for the coming fall term.

The young men, in dashing maroon, were seated by David Vitali, class marshal and treasurer, while Jennifer Breau, class marshal and president, seated the young women, clad in white, on the right.

Before the welcome and anthem, Evan Scott Goodwin received a standing ovation from his classmates and the audience for joining the U.S. Marine Corps upon his graduation.

Bethany Watts welcomed everyone, thanking family, friends and loved ones for their support in the lives of the graduates, saying, “Our (the graduates) successes wouldn’t have been as great without all of you guys.”

Sarah Pier and Watts elicited tears of emotion when they began to sing “For Good,” as every graduate handed roses, maroon and white, to family and loved ones. The gesture wasn’t a token one, but to show the immense gratitude individual graduates held for each person who is dear to them.

“This day is nothing short of incredible for the journey that we traveled was not easy,” Alexander Campbell said in the senior address to his fellow graduates. “It was not relaxing and it was not fun. So be proud, young Falcons, for we have endured an amazing adventure. We have persevered on top.”

Campbell spoke about the journey of life, emphasizing the underlying message that all graduating seniors should hold in mind: “The future holds amazing opportunities waiting for you to go get them.”

He then warned, “Now it’s your turn to make a choice, but choose wisely. Take responsibility for your decisions because soon you’ll be making a lot more.”

Amid excited cheering, Campbell closed his address with a grin, “Let’s go out there and conquer the world. Because it’s not ending, we’re just taking over.”

After being introduced by senior class adviser Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic, Dana Anderson, an English teacher at Freeport High School, spoke passionately to the graduates.

A teacher at Freeport for 13 years, Anderson began her journey at Freeport High just as the class was beginning their journey as kindergartners. Anderson said she most admired this class for their “hearts, their humor and their creative spirit.”

“I am humbled and blessed to be standing here today,” Anderson began, and though she said she was asked to teach the class of 2012 one final lesson, she chose to not teach something new, but to show what she has learned from this group of students.

Anderson said she learned acceptance, risk taking and optimism from the graduates.

The students created a safe place for everyone, she said, and did their best to make everyone feel comfortable and accepted.

“The indescribable reward of taking a risk,” Anderson continued, is very much evident in the multitude of journeys taken by students for their senior projects. The rewards each student realized from their ambitious tasks were even greater, knowing that they were taking a risk.

Finally, Anderson admired the optimism of the class of 2012, noting that their innate resilience was inspiring. Taking a moment to compose herself, Anderson spoke of two students who were unable to be with the class Sunday after having died from cancer, some time before. “Their optimism lives on through you all,” she said, choking up once again.

Anderson then read a passage from Robert Fulghum, about the “meaning of life.” The character, Dr. Papaderos, spoke of a pocket mirror he used as a game to shine light into the darkest places. As he grew, he realized, “I am not the light or the source, of the light. But light — truth, understanding, knowledge — is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.”

Each student reached up from under his or her chair to find a little mirror, to shine their own light into the hearts of others.

After the graduates received their diplomas, Breau and Pier told a story of the bus stop of their childhood and about the lessons they could have imparted: “Sharing is caring, to live a balanced life, to live by the three Rs of Morse Street,” but mostly, to keep these lessons in mind as the now-graduates continue on with their lives.

To close, they quoted the title character from the film “Ferris Bueller,” amid cheers and thrown caps, telling their classmates, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”