Life has a way of moving forward whether we’re ready or not.

The only thing that stays the same is that things are always changing.

That was among several lessons articulated to the 135 graduates of the Northern Lehigh High School Class of 2026 as part of commencement exercises Friday evening in Bulldog Stadium.

Class of 2026 Valedictorian Adriana Danyluk said one of her favorite television episodes is one of the last episodes of “The Big Bang Theory,” titled “The Change Constant,” in which Sheldon Cooper achieves one of his lifelong dreams: winning a Nobel Prize.

“Everything in his life is finally going right,” Danyluk said. “Yet instead of celebrating, he becomes afraid. He realizes that the people around him are changing, and that the life he has grown comfortable with will not last forever.”

Danyluk added, “His friend Penny comforts him by saying, ‘So, I guess the only thing that actually stays the same is that things are always changing.’ ”

In that episode of the show, Danyluk said Sheldon learns that change is not something to fear. It is simply a part of life.

“And while none of us know exactly where life will take us, I am confident that we all will be ready,” she said. “Ready to fail, succeed, adapt and keep moving forward — but most importantly, ready to change.”

Danyluk ended with, “Because, as Penny reminded Sheldon all those years ago, the only thing that stays the same is that things are always changing.”

Class of 2026 Salutatorian Emma Heil said she can vividly remember opening her first-ever high school report card and seeing “Class Rank: 1 out of 128.”

“Over the past four years, I imagined this exact moment — speaking to you all — more times than I can count,” Heil said. “So, yes — I expected this speech.

But when the time finally came to write it, Heil said she had no idea what she wanted to say.

“After all this time — after all that anticipation — I was convinced I was going to give a speech that fell short of what I wanted it to be,” she said. “The pressure I was putting on myself to make it perfect caused my mind to go completely blank.”

So, Heil said she did what she does best; she procrastinated, and one day while she was running late to pick up her sister, she said it finally hit her what she wanted to say.

“Throughout high school, I put an immense amount of pressure on myself to be perfect,” she said. “I spent way too much time on assignments that didn’t need it — and I was doing the exact same thing with this speech. I was so focused on making everything perfect that I completely missed what was right in front of me.”

Heil said she still thinks about something she read every day back in seventh grade on a poster in her life science classroom that said: “30 years from now, no one will remember what shoes you wore, how your hair looked, or the jeans you bought. But they will always remember how you made them feel.”

“So as we move forward onto whatever comes next, don’t focus on being perfect, and don’t let your achievements be the thing that defines you,” she said. “Instead, focus on being someone who makes a difference. Because that is what people will remember.”

Evelina Mayak, senior class president, told her fellow graduates that, “Every year without fail, freshmen are warned about how fast these four years will fly by, but I don’t think the truth in that advice truly hits you until you’ve put on your cap and gown and are preparing to walk the stage and get your diploma.

“You notice it a little more in each passing year, but it almost seems that by the time that you come to the realization that your time as a kid is almost up, it’s already too late,” Mayak said. “Some of you probably can’t wait to get your diploma and go, while others are trying to hold onto the last chapter of childhood for as long as they can.”

Mayak said that as important as these memories are, they are not the only thing the graduates are taking with them upon graduating.

“Over the past four years, we have learned lessons that can’t be found in a textbook,” she said. “We have learned how to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and be resilient.”

Dr. Lori Bali, the principal, greeted family members, while student council President Samantha Mack recognized the Slatington High School Class of 1976 attendees on the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

Assistant Principal Nicole Del Gotto recognized several retirees with many years of experience in the district. Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link presented the graduation class.

School board President Mathias Green presented the diplomas to the graduates.