Leaving high school, the most valuable thing I will take with me is the memories and I want to thank every person for playing a part in them. To my friends: you have gone beyond the limits of what one has to do for another. My life will be forever richer and more beautiful because you were a part of it. I love you with all my heart. To every girl who gossiped about me in corners of parties; to those who were my slap in the face; to the close-minded or misunderstanding; to those who broke my heart: you all challenged me to become the person I wanted to be. I am stronger because of the trials you put me through and no matter what you have done to me, you have unknowingly done so much for me. To every person who inspired me by the way they lived their life; to those who were my shoulder to cry on; to those I found myself with in my moments of pure joy; to those who have understood me; to the people I share inside jokes with; to anyone who has held my hand, or for that matter, held my hair back after a night of partying; to those who I laughed with until I cried; to my ex-boyfriends; to everyone I stayed up talking to until the early morning hours: thank you for the wisdom, happiness, and experience you’ve brought into my life. I will cherish these times forever. I wish you all the best.

As we sit here tonight … this is not just an ending, but also a beginning. Today is the last day of our high school lives and the first day of whatever we choose to do tomorrow. Some of us may be attending a college or university while others may not yet be sure what path they want to take through their lives. Either way … today is a beginning for a new phase of our life. On this day, we close the door to our past and look through the window to our future. There are some things from our high school experiences that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives and some memories that we will choose to forget, but whether or not we choose to remember them, we will have no choice but to learn from them. That is what our lives are about … learning from our past and preparing for our future so that we can succeed.

And so it comes just as it is, a day no longer here.
And through my trembling fingertips, the memories of the year …
I try not to wave farewell to all our dreams; I will forget you never,
I wonder if the crazy times will stay with you forever …
But as I cry in pain of losing you, my dear and such good friend,
I will not close the book and say, “Farewell, this is the end.”
For good-byes create swift hellos and days from now you’ll see,
That though it hurts to say good-bye, your friend I’ll always be.

His fingers touched her trembling shoulder as he slowly kissed her forehead good-bye. She clenched her teeth together to fight the tears, but as she turned away they came pouring out. He walked away, never turning back for fear of what he might see, and for what he knew he would miss so much. She looked over her shoulder as he became a blur through the tears. And from then on there was always an unspoken connection.

If there is ever a tomorrow when we are not together there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think, but most important of all, even if we are apart, I'll always be with you. ~ Anne Milne

I remember the look in your eyes when I told you that this was good-bye. You were begging me not tonight – not here, not now. ~ Yellowcard

There are no good-byes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

You know, I’ve finally found out the best thing about high school: once you graduate, you never have to come back. ~ Saved by the Bell

Someday we’ll wave hello and wish we’d never waved good-bye. ~ Smashing Pumpkins

And then we hugged each other tighter than we ever have before, knowing that we never would again.

You left before I had a chance to say good-bye, but that's the way life usually is ... it just passes you by.

Why does tonight have to end? Why don't we hit restart and pause it at our favorite parts? We'll skip the good-byes. If I had it my way, I'd turn the car around and run away ... just you and I. ~ Matchbook Romance

Would it be alright if we didn't say good-bye this time?

I’d long ago learned not to be picky in farewells. They weren’t guaranteed or promised. You were lucky, more than blessed, if you got a good-bye at all. ~ Sarah Dessen

If this means anything at all … don’t let me leave you anymore. ~ Jamison Parker, “Best Mistake”