LITCHFIELD — In a sea of red and black graduation gowns, 115 seniors said farewell to Campbell High School on Friday, preparing for a new chapter in their lives.

“This is such a bittersweet day for all of us. It is the beginning and the end,” said Alexandra Bonneau, secretary of the Class of 2012.

Many members of the graduating class have been together since grade school, embarking on new journeys together and jointly celebrating their senior year with fanfare, according to Bonneau.

“We have all grown up with each other, and there is no way we will be able to forget this class,” she said.

Commencement exercises mark the end of an era, agreed valedictorian Lucas Dube, encouraging his classmates to savor the final moments while also embracing the future and meeting whatever challenges may lie ahead.

The past four years at Campbell High School have prepared the Class of 2012 to face great opportunities and responsibilities, said Dube.

“Know your destination and you will find the course,” he added.

Citing countless quotes by Winston Churchill, speakers at Friday's graduation ceremony all gave a similar message to those seniors heading off to college, the workforce or the military — to be ready for the moment.

“This is a moment you will remember. It is a good, important and potentially defining moment in your life,” class adviser Erin Brown told the graduates. “But it is all of the little things, the simple things that shape your life.”

The numerous moments of passage serve as the fundamentals of who you are and what you believe as a person, Brown told the seniors, explaining that each of the fragmented moments will matter.

Many more moments await each graduating senior, according to Brown, who asked them if they are ready and willing to have their own voice, and to remember their mistakes in order to avoid them in the future.

“Are you finally, finally ready to do some hard work? I hope so,” she said. “Make the moments matter.”

Every senior has the opportunity to change the world, and the power and responsibility to make profound influences in the future, echoed salutatorian John Houston, acknowledging that the future can seem frightening.

“Truth be told, most of us are just a little bit afraid,” he said, asking the graduates to be strong and stay true to themselves while chasing their dreams and letting their imaginations soar.

Whether it is a future artist, athlete, leader or thinker, class treasurer Nicholas Sturzo said the Class of 2012 will be great. The failures throughout the past four years have helped each senior to discover themselves, push themselves and prepare for the real world, he said.

“Every individual here has the potential to be great,” Sturzo maintained.

The seniors honored some of the school's staff on Friday, dedicating the yearbook to teacher Dennis Perrault, and recognizing retiring Principal Robert Manseau with a framed photo collage.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.