“It went better than I thought,” said Aihan Goldberg, commenting on his electric guitar solo that drew raucous applause during Monday’s graduation ceremony at Haines High School.

Goldberg’s original composition was the finale of student musical acts that included a student rock band’s version of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song and a choral rendition of the Lord’s Prayer, sung in Swahili.

“I’m speechless. I’m not quite sure how to segue into the next section of our program,” said school principal Cheryl Stickler after their performances. “I remember telling you about being strong and setting new standards for those who come after you. I think tonight you set a new standard.”

High school English teacher Rene Martin delivered the commencement address, advising the 25 graduates to know themselves, dream big, and have courage. “To wake up excited about what you do and where you live, and to know that your family and your community has your back, is what life is meant to be,” she said.

Martin, who gave up a career in food service to become a teacher five years ago, offered her work history as an example of progressing through life.

“Soul searching, and then goal-setting and making a plan was what led me here. As I meet one goal, I set another… I have come to realize that when we aren’t looking forward to something or trying to achieve something for ourselves, we become observers of life and stop being participants,” Martin said.

She quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, telling graduates “the future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.” She told them they would need courage to try new things, meet new people, go new places and speak up against wrongdoing. “You are ready for that challenge. You have what it takes.”

Salutatorian Blake Hamilton told the audience that places like Haines are special. “It is hard to find a place with such natural beauty and remarkable community members, all who have one way or another contributed to the development” of the graduating class.

Hamilton singled out each high school teacher, citing specific contributions to the district.

“This class has had experience in and out of the classroom that most people will never get a chance to do in their lifetimes. My advice to the class of 2011 is to treat life like my good friend Quinn, throw in a ‘woo!’ and give it your best shot,” Hamilton said.

Valedictorian Abby Jones told students life is a journey of self-discovery. “There’s going to be times when we feel like we know exactly who we are and then there will be times when we have no idea, but that’s what life is. It is ebbs and flows, ups and downs, and through it all we are discovering who we are.”

“Despite what the world might tell us that we need to be different, that we need to change to conform to new trends, or to the things we see on TV or in magazines, each of our imperfections makes us unique and special, and that is how we are supposed to be,” Jones said.

Jones addressed each classmate individually, remarking on special qualities. “The exciting thing is that we don’t know all the gifts we have yet, and we will never know unless we try new things and sometimes fail… We cannot settle for just existing in this world. We have to live in it.”

Jones said she was fortunate to get to know her classmates. “Every single one of you has taught me something about life. You never know whose lives you may be affecting.”

The evening was a fun one for students and family members. Liz Ripley, watching son Nathan Piper graduate, said she especially liked Goldberg’s guitar work. “That was awesome. It was like a regular rock-n-roll act. That was really good.”

Graduate Kimberley Lemieux and sister Jolene, also graduating, posed together for photographs with friends and family in a reception line that followed the ceremony, a local tradition. Kimberley was singled out by valedictorian Jones as “mother” of the class, who looked after other students.

“We’re like a big family, together,” Lemieux said. “The newcomers that came in kind of filled us out and completed the whole family.”