CLAREMONT — Find a balance in your life; don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone; do the things you love; celebrate your accomplishments and remember to smile.

Those parting words of advice were delivered by the Class of 2025 Stevens High School valedictorian and salutatorian at Thursday’s graduation inside a very warm Carr gymnasium.

Valedictorian Aubree Herzog said her belief that “it’s not cool to not care” fueled her desire to engage in a wide variety of interests.

“While I know I was a busy bee in high school, I joined everything I did because I cared,” Herzog said. “I truly believe you get back what you put into things. Life is so much better with a smile on your face.”

As a new world outside of high school beckons, Herzog asked her classmates “to have the courage of your convictions and be passionate about what you believe in.”

The future will hold different things for each of them, but one thing it presents to everyone is opportunity, she said.

“Seize the opportunities of life, especially if they scare you,” said Herzog, who will attend Washington University in St. Louis in the fall. “Join the club, take the new job or try out the new class. Do the things you love. Your life will be better the second you start caring about it.”

Salutatorian Sara Gaspard, who is headed to Dartmouth, took her class on a brief journey of her four years and the lessons learned along the way.

“People will make unfair assumptions about you and you need to have the courage to speak up for yourself,” Gaspard said, illustrating her point with the example of a teacher who declined to recommend her for honors geometry her freshman year. “If you’re confused, struggling or feeling undervalued, you need to take the initiative.”

As a sophomore, Gaspard said she moved out of her “comfort zone” into “unchartered territories.”

In the years ahead, she joined clubs, picked up hobbies and gained acceptance in the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School in Concord.

This and other activities built her confidence and later led to her acceptance at Dartmouth, Gaspard said: “All this is to say, don’t be afraid to try something new.”

As she entered her senior year, Gaspard said she remained a dedicated student but also recognized the importance of finding balance, her “overarching theme” this year.

Becoming more involved with friends, acting in the senior play, attending games, concerts and dances and building relationships with classmates gave her that balance and a more contented outlook.

“My work ethic didn’t change but my ability to balance did,” Gaspard said. “I didn’t find excuses but gave myself room to breathe, as should all of you.”

The students concluded their remarks with heartfelt and emotional thank yous to their family, friends, teachers and others who were with them in their high school journey.

SAU 6 Superintendent Chris Pratt welcomed the graduates and congratulated them for their triumph over challenges with a lot of early mornings and late nights driven by determination. He reminded the class that along the way there were “teachers that believed in you, families who encouraged you and friends who stood by your side.”

He urged them to carry their determination forward and keep their curiosity alive as they move to a new chapter in their lives.

The evening opened with Pomp and Circumstance by the Stevens band as the graduates marched down the center aisle between proud family and friends.

Teacher Matthew Hammond gave Isabella Bovell the Edgar L. Lord Faculty Award, which is given annually to the student faculty determine to best represent the school’s ideals and values.

After the presentation of diplomas, class advisor Hillary Walsh said it has been an “unforgettable four years with countless memories made in these halls.”

She encouraged the graduates to explore their interests, embrace challenges and see setbacks as opportunities.

As Green Day’s “Good Riddance” and its refrain “I hope you had the time of your life” played, the 95 graduates filed out of the gym, taking a last chance to thank teachers before meeting up with their families.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.

Stevens High School Class of 2025

Dezmond Abair, Southeast Lineman Training Center; Hunter Abbott, workforce; Joel Acero, Hofstra University; Riley Aiken, workforce; Alyssa Albright-Decker, workforce; Konlin Aldrich, workforce; Sydnee Aumand, University at Albany; Haydance Beck, workforce; Taylor Bell, Curry College; Bryce Berry, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Tyler Blanchard, workforce; Angel Blodgett-Barker, River Valley Community College; Hailey Bonneau, workforce; Cara Bouchard, workforce, Valley Regional Hospital Emergency Room; Ella Bouchard, Southern New Hampshire University; Isabella Bovell, Plymouth State University; Jason Brunell, workforce; Madison Bunker, NHTI; Merrick Chamberlain, workforce; Ella Chambers, LNA program; Jeremy Cheng, Rochester Institute of Technology; Christian Copley Southern New Hampshire University; Devyn Corliss, Nichols College; Brittney Darling, River Valley Community College; Jacob Davis, Tufts University; Landon DeCoteau, workforce; Justin Demars, Southeast Lineman Training Center; Thomas Demars, workforce; Ross Derosier, return to Stevens High School; Katie Ferland, workforce, Ramuntos; Steven Ferland, workforce; Julia Ferreira De Almeida, Univale / Brazilian College in Governador Valadares; Jesse Fischer, workforce, construction/carpentry; Jordan Foster, Plymouth State University; Connor Fullmer, workforce; Sara Gaspard, Dartmouth College; Ian Gersberg, workforce; Benjamin Goodell, workforce; Jailyn Gorecki, workforce; Matthew Goss, Southern New Hampshire University; Elizabeth Graham, River Valley Community College; William Guillette, workforce; Mia Herbert, High Point University; Aubree Herzog, Washington University in St. Louis; Preston Horalek, military service; Evangelina Jordan, River Valley Community College; Joseph Kahlenbeck, workforce; Olivia Laplante, workforce; Daunte Laraway, Plymouth State University; Nevaeh Leblanc, Plymouth State University; Cassiday LeFebvre, workforce; Morgan Lynch, Keene Beauty Academy; Bradley Maciel, workforce; William Madden, military service; Brianna Marsh, Franklin Pierce University; Nevin Marsh, Franklin Pierce University; Kirsten Martel, Franklin Pierce University; Keira McElreavy, Plymouth State University; Johnnie McPherson, workforce; Connor Mears, workforce; Connor Miller, University of New England; Dominic Myers, Husson University; Cullen Neathawk, workforce; Amelia Nelson-Davis, workforce; Jayden Nolin, workforce; Austin Oakes, workforce; Henry Owens, Plymouth State University; Zachary Perkins, workforce; Joshua Petrin, military service; Aiden Pisani, workforce; Connor Premo, Plymouth State University; Rhea Quick, River Valley Community College; Jackson Rapp, University of Vermont; Steven Rheaume, police academy/ become police officer at age 21; Zachary Richardson, Plymouth State University; Ava Robinson, River Valley Community College; Nickolas Schnyer, workforce; Paige Simonds, Elmira College; Isabella Simoneau, New England College; Austin Simoneau, workforce; Asher Smith, military service; Barrin St. Sauveur, workforce; Benjamin Stender, workforce; Kylie Tilton, workforce; Julianna Toth, Plymouth State University; Dhyllan Vanvalkenburg, workforce; Viktoriia Viushyn, exchange student; Hunter Watson, workforce; Christopher West, Plymouth State University; Lyndsie West, workforce; Ryder (Rylie) West, workforce; Sarah Wheeler, Colby Sawyer College; Adam Whitman, military service; Eleanor Williams, workforce; and Chloe Zullo, Vermont State University.