For some of the 165 Estevan Comprehensive School graduates gathered in the Civic Auditorium on Monday, the end of their high school lives may have carried a hint of deja vu - closely resembling the start of their educations 13 years earlier.
"There's no end to the things you might know. Oh, the places you'll go!" was chosen as the ECS class of 2010's graduation motto. The line, of course, comes from Dr. Seuss' story Oh, The Places You'll Go.
As children, almost everyone learned to read and write and dream and imagine and were kept entertained by the wild creatures and wacky worlds fashioned by the imagination of Dr. Seuss. But who could have guessed that 13 years after their educations began, Dr. Seuss' words would be all the more poignant on grad night.
The words were certainly fitting, though. For as much as graduation is a celebration of the completion of the four preceding years, the focal point of Monday's graduation ceremony was the future.
"Today is a day of memories and yet it also contains promises of what is yet to be," ECS principal Mike Little said in his address to the graduates. "Today, like a builder, you are laying a foundation for your future.
"Just now you are deciding whether you want to be an entrepeneur or a scientist, a clerical worker or a doctor. You are living in a world full of choices and I urge you to open your mind to those choices."
Larry Epp, who responded to Kathee Le and Adam Shirley's tribute to the teachers, added to Little's words, assuring the graduates that their high school years would not be the best - or worst - years of their lives, as it may have felt to them during their four-year stay.
Instead, Epp stressed three main things that the students should always remember. "Choose Life; choose joy; and the world is really a good place."
He put the three points up on the screen behind him in his mock-lecture style speech. Luckily for those in attendance though, Epp assured them there would be no exam after.
For all the talk of the future, the ceremony still took time to look to the past to highlight some of the memorable moments in the students' high school careers.
The graduates were treated to a 15-minute slideshow, displaying pictures of the students from over the years.
The grad band and choir performed the Pink Panther theme song as a touching tribute to the memory of Mr. Colin Grunert. The ECS band instructor, affectionately known as Mr. G, passed away in November, of the school year.
Landon Lafrentz and Keisha Padayachee had the crowd laughing, as they spoke on behalf of their fellow grads in thanking the parents for all of the love and support given to them over the years - and even did a little bit of apologizing for some of the - perhaps - rough patches that came with growing up.
Diane Naidu and Marlene Lafrentz were slightly more emotional, but just as funny in their response on behalf of the parents. Naidu joked that, even though a parent spends the first 10 or so years of their child's life trying to protect them from everything, there are times in the years following in which a parent would like nothing more than to hurt their kid themself.
The night ended as it began, with the graduates setting their sights on the wonderful things to come, as Matthew Cundall delivered the valedictory address, followed by the moment everyone had been waiting for - the presentation of diplomas.
Proud parents, friends and relatives gathered at the sides of the stage to take pictures and congratulate the graduates as they took the trip across the stage - a giant step on the path towards reaching all of their hopes and dreams.
