Yellowknife (May 16/05) - Some sat excitedly, others patiently, as future teachers, doctors, engineers, musicians and actors crossed a gym-turned auditorium to graduate at Sir John Franklin's 2005 Convocation ceremony.

Many thanks were given to friends, teachers and parents as younger siblings struggled to see and overjoyed parent's snapped pictures.

The four-hour ceremony heard speeches from Education Minister Charles Dent, Education Board Chair Reanna Erasmus, and NWT Commissioner Tony Whitford, a graduate of the school.

But most memorable was probably that given by the class valedictorian.

Adam Hassan stirred the emotional crowd as he reflected on four years of fun and hard work at SJF in his valedictorian address.

"It is with great honour and pride that I stand before you tonight as the class valedictorian," Hassan started, "with the amazing and almost daunting fact that we have arrived at our well deserved and long awaited destination."

"The fact that all of us are standing here is a testament to the strength and conviction of each and every one of you," Hassan said.

After being reminded that they still had exams to pass, the 123-person class of 2005 turned to their family, and moved the tassel of their blue caps from left to right, signifying the move out of school.

"I think it means that we've come all this way and we're finally done. After four years it's just a culmination of everything," said Blake Beckle, who plans on going to the University of Alberta to work toward a masters in psychology.

"Everybody might have had their ups and downs, but in the end we are all here, we're all happy and that's all that really matters," Beckle said.

His mother, Pam, had trouble putting into words what Blake's graduation means to her, "If I think to hard on it I'll probably cry," she said.

"It means that my little boy has become a man and he's ready to go make a difference in the world. And I'm very proud of him."

It means "one stepping stone on the stream of life to the next one," says Jamie Jacobs.