Marshall High School graduates processed into the gymnasium for commencement ceremonies on Friday night. A total of 207 graduates would be receiving their diplomas, said MHS Principal Brian Jones.

MARSHALL — The end of high school came up faster than they ever imagined. But members of the Marshall High School class of 2024 said they were looking ahead to the future.

“All of a sudden, within the blink of an eye, here we are in our caps and gowns, excited for what’s next,” said MHS graduate Kaziah Kelsey. “Congratulations to all my fellow classmates for accomplishing such a big milestone.”

A total of 207 Marshall High School seniors received their diplomas at commencement ceremonies Friday night. The program also recognized students graduating with distinction, and those who were enlisting or had already enlisted in military service.

“Tonight, 94 students will be graduating with honors status,” said MHS Principal Brian Jones. A total of seven graduates were entering the military, he said.

Teachers and school administrators had words of encouragement for the class of 2024. MHS teacher Mitchell Maxwell asked seniors to remember their first days in high school.

“We told you there were three kinds of students at MHS: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened,” Maxwell said. By making it to graduation, he said, “You have made a choice to make it happen.”

Commencement speakers at Friday’s ceremony reflected back on their high school experiences, and shared advice for the future. November Paw said the journey to graduation was a little like a road trip.

“Through our four years, we were able to make the most of the unexpected things life threw our way,” Paw said. “The road never stopped, and we had to keep driving.”

Some of the unexpected things graduates experienced included starting high school in hybrid learning, as well as the normal stresses and mistakes of getting through school, she said. Paw encouraged her classmates to keep learning from their mistakes and becoming better people.

Hser Tha Htoo also called on graduates to look ahead to the future. “As we leave the familiar halls of high school, we must remember that this is not the end, but only the beginning,” Htoo said.

Graduates should be true to themselves, and use their unique passions and talents to make an impact on the world, Htoo said.

“It is up to us to take the knowledge, skills and experiences that we have gained, and use them to decide if we want to make a positive impact or a negative impact in our communities,” Htoo said.

In her speech, Sophia Gaul asked graduates to reflect on a question: “When is the last time you did something for the first time?”

It took thousands of moments of trying something new for students to succeed and get to graduation, Gaul said. “You are only here today because you were OK with doing something for the first time,” she said. “I’d like you to take that mindset of change well beyond the next few months. The last time you did something for the first time should be every day.”

“Some of us know exactly what’s next, and others still have no idea,” Kelsey said of graduates’ futures. “But no matter what, you’re all going to do great things, and you’re all going to make an impact in some way. Take what you’ve learned here at MHS and use that to change the world.”