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Sure graduation is exciting, but what if you have to be the first person in your class to make their way across the stage?

That was Kenai Central High senior Thomas Conley's dilemma just minutes before he culminated his high school career.

"I'm pretty pumped right now, but I'm a little nervous though because I'm the first one to go, and I don't know who's hand I'm shaking first," Conley said, his voice laden with the excitement of the moment.

Conley and his classmates, adorned in their graduation regalia, were lined up in the school's cafeteria awaiting the big moment.

The room felt electrified with their energy.

Of course, with all the anticipation came some nail biting.

"I'm a little nervous, I don't know, it just seemed like the year kind of started not long ago," said Bryce Boyle.

Sean Dougherty looked at his friends surrounding him and admitted he'd miss them.

Oh yeah, he'd miss something else too: "Hockey, hockey, it's just what I live for," he said.

Such a moment can be a bit hard to comprehend.

Rio Aguilar said he was ready for the ceremony to start, and perhaps life, post high school, as well.

"I'm nervous; it hasn't really hit me yet," he said.

Aguilar said he planned to go to Kenai Peninsula College next year. From there he was looking to Oklahoma where he had family, and hoped to go to school for something related to athletic or physical training.

Conley and Boyle were both planning on going to KPC as well for a degree in process technology with the hopes of finding work on the slope.

Dougherty said he still hadn't decided.

"I might go to KPC or I might chase down a music career out of state. I'm kind of unsure, but I'm OK with that," he said.