Ronnie Smith only needed one word to describe his feelings about graduation.

“Finally.”

Smith, a 2010 graduate of Adams County Christian School said the past few months had been excruciatingly long waiting for the graduation ceremony.

But Friday, all the waiting was over. Adams Christian graduated 39 students during a ceremony at First Baptist Church in Natchez.

“It’s a relief,” Smith said. “I’m glad to be gone.”

Now, Smith is looking forward to beginning classes at Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez to study welding. He wants to pursue a career in underwater welding.

And while Smith has no qualms about waving goodbye to his high school, fellow graduate Katlyn Sanderson said her excitement is mixed with a few sad feelings.

“When I got here, I was just ready to get it over with,” she said. “Now, since we are about to walk out, the feelings are starting to hit me.”

Sanderson, who has attended ACCS since second grade, said the thought of not seeing her friends as often and leaving teachers that had cared about her and inspired her is sad, but the feeling of accomplishment overwhelms the sadness.

“It is just exciting to know we’ve done it,” she said. “I’m ready for what is going to come next.”

Sanderson will attend Jones County Junior College and study photography.

With new doors open for the graduating class, ACCS valedictorian Marlee Wadsworth encouraged her classmates to remember the lessons they were taught while at Adams Christian.

“Now we have the freedom to make our own decisions, but we have to be careful,” she said. “It is exciting to be taking the next step in our lives.”

Wadsworth said she and her classmates will undoubtably face tough situations and discouraging challenges, but they should never give up on their life goals.

“Hard work and determination can take us anywhere we want to go,” she said.

Wadsworth said she and her classmates should use God’s wisdom and guidance while going forward in their lives.

Salutatorian Leah Manoley said while she and her classmates will face challengers in the next stages of their lives, they will never be alone.

“Even though life changes and people change, God never changes,” she said. “I hope that others see in us that (Adams Christian) is not just the name of the school but a away of life.”