The journey of life takes many turns.

But, tough times do not last, tough people do.That was among the advice shared with the 130 members of the Northern Lehigh High School Class of 2017 during commencement exercises held at Bulldog Stadium on Friday.High school Principal Robert Vlasaty welcomed those in attendance and told the graduates to take what they've learned during the tenure in the district and use it.Class President Joseph Egan told his fellow graduates that some of the happiest people in life don't have a lot of money."While money is important in all of our lives, it isn't everything," Egan said. "So, the next time somebody asks you what you want to be in life, you can tell them, 'happy'."Class co-valedictorian Ashley Wilk told her fellow graduates that everyone has dreams."It is our time now to start a new part of our life and to pave a new path for ourselves," Wilk said. "What that means to each of us will be different, but that is the brilliance of dreams."Wilk said everyone says that they need to be prepared for the real world."But what I think is that the world needs to be prepared for us," she said. "We can bring so many good changes to towns, cities, and even an entire country."Wilk then challenged the graduates to "get out there, make a difference, and show the world what a Northern Lehigh Bulldog can do."Class co-valedictorian Jennifer Knerr noted how the students have always been planning for someday, and that today is their someday."Today is the day that we close one vital chapter in our lives and turn the page to a rightfully earned new beginning," Knerr said. "Today is our own hoped for and worked for "someday.""Knerr told her fellow graduates that thousands of years of history have already been made, but it is not finished."It is our turn to leave a mark on this world, set higher standards, and achieve everything that those before us could not," she said. "Now is our chance to make new discoveries, cure new diseases, travel to new places, and fill those final pages of each and every history textbook with our names, our finds, and our accomplishments."Knerr told the graduates to face their futures head on; to set goals, reach them, and live out their wildest dreams, because every day that they wait is a day that they will never get back."I wish all of you, my fellow graduates, the very best of luck in your future endeavors, and I can't wait to see how our story ends," she said. "Today is our someday."Faculty member Jonathan DeFrain recognized the Slatington High School Class of 1967 attendees who were on hand to celebrate their 50th anniversary.Vlasaty recognized several retirees with many years of experience to the district, including Superintendent Michael Michaels, who will retire later this month after over 35 years in education.Michaels told the graduates that when he was their age, he never thought he would one day be a superintendent.He then told them that they are the gem of the Lehigh Valley.School board President Gary Fedorcha then presented the diplomas to the graduates.