As 401 members of the Andover High School class of 2009 crossed the stage of the Tsongas Arena on June 1, it was a last hurrah for not only the graduates, but outgoing AHS Principal Peter Anderson.
As they shook Anderson's hand, crossing the stage, each graduate handed Anderson a hand-written thank you note for his nine years at AHS.
Anderson received a standing ovation before he even said a word of his commencement address.
"It was never my intention that this would be about me tonight. It's about you people, sitting here on the floor (of the stadium)," said Anderson to the class of 2009.
In his address, Anderson stressed the importance of having courage, knowledge, principle, character, perserverence and "a little fire." It's the small things in life that matter, he said, including saying please and thank you, never hesitating to apologize, taking time for reflection on your life and paying more attention to the similarities between people, instead of differences.
He wore a cordless microphone as he delivered his address, walking the floor among the seated graduates.
"If you get past the differences that make you stop and not approach someone, you will find out that you're more similar than you think," said Anderson. "Take more risks. Failure is not the end of the world."
Anderson ended by saying "I'm glad I'm moving on with you. Thanks and Godspeed."
The students were immediately on their feet, cheering and holding up signs they had made bearing a photograph of Anderson's face.
To begin the ceremony, the 401 graduates, a sea of royal blue robes, marched in to Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance." One young man was talking on a cell phone as he walked in with his class, covering his other ear to hear better.
The school's combined choir, orchestra and band played the song "You Raise Me Up," with graduates joining the ensembles, standing out in their blue gowns. The combined groups stretched the length of the stage, and music teachers Julie Diehl and Joseph Wright conducted the musicians in synch.
Family and friends in the audience were of mixed formality. Dress ranged from ball caps and denim cutoff shorts to women in Indian saris and men in suits and ties.
After each graduate walked across the stage to receive their diploma, they walked down the center aisle to a circle of AHS faculty, giving hugs and shaking hands. After the last name was called, and the seated graduates waited for their classmates to make their way through the circle of faculty, the excitement was palpable.
The seated graduates erupted into a wave, cheering and standing, row by row. Eventually, the wave spread to the entire auditorium, going across the audience and even the stage, school administration joining in.
"So much for formality," joked Anderson once everyone was seated.
Julianne Konjoian, as she read her class essay, spoke of the unity among her classmates, of a class dedicated to community service, friendship, attending school events and games.
"If school spirit was a varsity sport, we would have won the state championship," said Konjoian.
Graduates Adam Taylor and Matt Cheney agreed their class knew how to have a great time together.
"We broke some walls down, we were a strong class," said Cheney.
"We all get along, and didn't really have cliques," agreed Taylor.
The two buddies are headed to Middlesex Community College in Lowell next year, planning to transfer to a bigger school after a couple of years.
They summed up their post-graduation emotions in one adjective each:
"Invigorated," said Cheney.
"Overwhelmed," said Taylor.
As the ceremony ended, graduates and families flooded the staircase and sidewalks in front of the Tsongas Arena. Graduates had to turn in their robes to receive their actual diploma certificate, so many walked around wearing just their caps, clutching bouquets of flowers and cell phones.
