It's important to focus on and live our dreams, rather than be consumed with and held back by our fears.

So was one of the underlying messages shared with 123 Northern Lehigh High School seniors who received their diplomas as part of the 125th commencement exercises held Friday inside the school gymnasium.Class President Emily Bevans said there were several great pieces of advice she received in 10th grade when she took public speaking with instructor Renee Evans.Bevans said one of those pieces of advice was, "No matter what challenge you face in life, have a positive attitude for a self-fulfilling prophecy.""If you believe you will do bad, you will do bad," Bevans said. "But if you believe in yourself that you will do well, you will indeed do well."Salutatorian Julie Knerr said that after 13 years of school, she found herself going back to Dr. Seuss as she prepared her speech."When we were 5, 6, and 7 years old, a poem like 'Oh the Places You'll Go' wouldn't have meant much more than some made up words and good rhymes," Knerr said."But as I read it today, over a decade later, the words take on something completely new."Knerr encouraged the graduates not to get discouraged when things do not work out, "because I believe that only means something better is waiting around the corner."Letdowns and failures happen, but the important part is to get back up, learn from the situation, and come out a better person," she said."Remember, life's a great balancing act."Valedictorian Nathaniel Rex asked his fellow classmates to consider what their fears are.Rex quoted motivational speaker Les Brown, who said, "You can either live your dreams, or you can live your fears.""And I think, a lot of people in our world today are not living their dreams, but are instead living their fears," Rex said."Many of the apprehensions we have, are not earth-shattering either. We tend to blow them out of proportion, give power to them, and sometimes let fear of that first step govern our lives … keep us from stretching out, reaching our dreams, discovering our potential," he said."If we live scared to take that first step, make that first move, the people and world around us can sense it, pick up on it."High school Principal Robert Vlasaty then recognized the Graduation Class of 1965, as well as several retiring staff members.Superintendent Michael Michaels said he wanted everyone to recognize what outstanding young adults the graduates were, and that the district is in a great place because the students have made it a better place.Vlasaty read the names of each graduate before school board President Edward Hartman handed out their diploma.