JORDAN - Marilyn Dominick believes 2007's high school graduates should try to lead “elastic” lives.

“Life is like a rubber band,” the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District superintendent told the students as she brandished a small piece of elastic. “If we stretch ourselves, then release, we can realize our visions of who we are, and who we want to be.”

More than 100 seniors took those words to heart Saturday at Jordan-Elbridge High School's 43rd annual commencement ceremony, which took place in the school auditorium. Besides the usual speeches, songs and awards, the hall was filled with an uncanny sense of togetherness and determination, which graduates referred to time and time again during the program.

“This class first came together in kindergarten in 1994, and since then, we have shared experiences to last a lifetime,” said Jacquelyn Harvey, class president, during her opening remarks. Harvey, who plans to attend Onondaga Community College and then transfer to Cornell to pursue medicine, spoke to the class about their future plans.

“No matter what we do - enter college, join the workforce, start a family - we hope to meet our challenges with diversity and courage ... and by doing so we will surely succeed,”she said.

Valedictorian Catherine White, who plans to study marine biology at Johns Hopkins University, echoed Harvey's sentiment in her address. “When we come back in ten years for a reunion, how great it would be to know that we have all succeeded. My fellow classmates, I tell you that it is entirely possible,” she said.

Next was a speech by salutatorian Bonnie Curdt, who among other accolades, won the school's 2007 John Philip Sousa Award as outstanding band member.

Then, the moment was at hand. As each student crossed the stage to receive a diploma, added to the expected cheers and yells was an interesting touch. The school showed huge photos of each student as a child projected onto an auditorium wall.

After moving their tassels, the class was showered with applause, and the crowd of several hundred continued clapping as the graduates exited in a recessional.

Afterward, the parking lot vibrated with the sounds of laughter and congratulations. Among the many happy graduates was Colleen Manley, who said she will attend Keuka College in Penn Yan to study occupational therapy.

“(The class) gets along so well, and we're all really close,” Manley said. “I've never really had problems with anybody, and that's pretty unusual for high school.”