Austin Parks said it was a bittersweet moment when he accepted his diploma and stepped off the stage into the next chapter of his life.

The 192 other graduates of Niles High School’s Class of 2012 probably felt similar emotions.

“It is sad to know that we are going to leave a ton of great people behind, but it is great to know a ton of great people are about to go and do a ton of great things,” Parks said.

Thursday’s Commencement Exercise, the 150^th in Niles High School history, was moved from the football field to the high school gymnasium due to rain.

Guest speaker Jeff Curry, president of the board of education, told the class he expected them to do great things, saying each student had many talents from which to draw.

Co-valedictorian Alison Dawson wished her classmates luck as they moved into life after high school, quoting the song “We Are Young” by Fun.

“Tonight, we are young. So let’s set the world on fire, and we can burn brighter than the sun,” Dawson said.

Co-valedictorian Daniel Touhey said nothing could capture the emotion he wanted to get across to his peers quite like portions from the Dr. Seuss book “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” given to him as an early graduation present by his grandparents.

“We do have brains in our heads, and we do have feet in our shoes. Now we must go out and make a difference in this world … we can make an impact no matter where we are,” Touhey said.

Maureen Craig closed the ceremony by presenting the Class of 2012 the gift of a quote by an anonymous source: “To achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible. To be as much as we can, we must dream of being more.”

The quote will be placed within the halls of Niles High School in memory of the Class of 2012.