Up until this moment, they have perhaps only learned to accept themselves as a composition of numbers.

From this day forward, members of the Jim Thorpe Area High School Class of 2011 have the duty to make their own equations from those numbers.That was among the many words of wisdom shared with the 127 students who composed the 57th annual graduation class as part of commencement exercises Friday in the high school gymnasium.High school Principal Thomas Lesisko and school board President Michael Huber gave opening remarks.Class President Edwin Valentin congratulated his fellow classmates on their successful journey."Many of them, like myself, have endured some type of struggle, whether it has been personal, social, or academic, which has shaped him or her into the individual that he or she is today," Valentin said. "Because these individuals were able to overcome their struggles and learn from them is the reason they are sitting up on this stage this evening.Valentin then quoted the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who penned the famous quote "That which does not kill us makes us stronger.""I personally believe that the greater the struggle or difficulty we surmount, the greater is the glory we obtain," he said. "It is glory that we are celebrating here tonight; both our glory as individuals and our glory as a class."Valentin noted that there is certain to be many more struggles the class will face as they moved forward in their lives."I will now say to the Class of 2011, to all of the members of my school family, that I hope each and every one of you obtain your own special glory," he said. "Finally, don't cry because it is over, but smile because it has happened."Class Salutatorian Anna Domingo said the big day has finally arrived."Well, it's finally here; graduation," Domingo said. "By the end of tonight, we will be leaving this gymnasium as something much different than what we were when we first entered these halls as freshmen."Domingo said the 127 graduates are a number, and that their next step, wherever direction it may lead, will be taken together."In the end, there is a single number that encompasses all that we are, up to this point," she said. "We are one class, and that unity we have now will give us the strength to find out who we are on our own in the years to come."Domingo then referenced a quote from journalist May Lamberton Becker, who said "We neither grow better nor worse as we get older, but more like ourselves."She then closed her speech by telling the class to "never let up.""No matter how smart or how skilled you may be, you will accomplish nothing by sitting idly by and allowing others to speak or act for you," she said. "If you work, really work for something you believe in, you will always be fulfilled, and you will always be successful."Class Valedictorian Adam Dachowicz told the class that graduation was "sort of a mixed bag of emotions for me.""It's a night to look back and celebrate all that we have accomplished over the past four years," Dachowicz said. "It's a night to laugh about the good times we've had with our friends; to remember all those late nights of studying for that chemistry test or finishing that massive US history project; to reminisce about winning that track meet or tennis match; and to thank those who have helped us to get to this point."Dachowicz said he was certain that each of his classmates has a similar story of "personal development", and that "in the end, high school is just as much about academics and straight "book knowledge" as it is about developing graduates who are well-adjusted and prepared to enter the world as positive, powerful members of society."Dachowicz then quoted Thomas Jefferson "Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."He then closed his speech by telling the class that no matter where they go in life, and no matter how successful they become or what future developments occur around them, to remember that as long as they still have the power to think for themselves, they have the power to affect things around them."Find your passion, and then pursue that passion forever after," he said. "Strive to have a positive impact in everything you do, and you will make a major mark on the world."Valentin then gave the mantle presentation, accepted by Benjamin Moore, president of the Class of 2012.Then came the announcement of graduates, followed by the presentation of diplomas from Superintendent Barbara Conway, Lesisko, Huber, and Mark Rosenberger.Lesisko then gave the presentation of the class.Conway then told the class she has one final story for them before they left high school.She said it was a story about a boy named "Sparky" who was backward and struggled in school, both academically and socially.After repeated struggles, Conway said "Sparky" went on to write his own lifestory in cartoons.His name, she said, was Charles Schulz, who went on to create the famous comic strip "Peanuts".The audience and class sang the Alma Mater. The recessional, Rondeau-Mouret, was performed by organist Jeana Depuy.