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The graduating seniors of Cook Inlet Academy are going places.

For some, that means literally going halfway around the world.

Aaron Rowley will give up the chill air of the North Pacific this fall for the more sultry climes of Africa.

Rowley's classmate, Jacob Barlow, enlisted in the army and was also headed for warmer weather at Fort Benning, Ga.

CIA's only two female gradates planned to keep a little bit closer to home.

Chelsea Maaee said she was bound for University of Montana, while Rebecca Mattfield was contemplating Montana or University of Alaska Anchorage.

Standing on the edge of such a life change was throwing Mattfield through a bit of a loop.

"It's weird that we're done with high school and we have to start over again," she said.

Moving on means leaving fond memories behind.

"I'll miss our class being together," Maaee said.

Barlow felt similarly.

"I'm probably just going to miss everybody in my class, my friends and some of the teachers," he said.

From their altitude of experience, the seniors had some advice to offer their younger peers.

"Take your school work a little more seriously," Barlow said.

Rowley agreed.

"You don't realize until you're actually older and starting to graduate, but because when you're doing it all it just seems like it's just what you're doing right then, but it affects you in the long run," he said.

Mattfield had a different approach, saying, "Have fun, but keep focused at the same time."