Joy and sadness were coupled with anticipation and uncertainty as the Northampton Area High School Class of 2013 officially concluded its high school journey Saturday.

The 438 graduating seniors who gathered at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena were told whatever path they choose in the future, change will remain a consistent part of their lives.

The Class of 2013 entered the hall as the band played the processional "Pomp & Circumstance." The audience and graduating seniors joined voices to sing the "Star Spangled Banner."

"Strive for excellence in everything you do," said Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik, a lifelong resident of Northampton.

"We know your future will be personally rewarding, and we trust that each of you will embrace the opportunities that will allow you to successfully accomplish your personal, educational and vocational goals," Principal Stephen J. Seier said. "You also have a vast network of alumni that share something in common with you, and that is the pride of graduating from Northampton Area High School as a 'Konkrete Kid.'"

"Uncertainty is a major part of life, especially now, as we take our next steps into the world," said Valedictorian Kayla Rajsky. "If you spend your life insisting on certainty, you will never really live. The only thing that is absolutely certain is change. Change happens all the time, right now your hair and fingernails are growing, your interest in my speech may be waning. The only thing that is certain is that something is changing. You can stave off death through medication or cryogenic freezing, you can avoid paying taxes like Martha Stewart, but the one thing you cannot avoid is change. You must embrace the uncertainty and change in life."

Rajsky said her current beliefs and values are much different from those she had as a young child, when her dream was to become an astronaut.

"If I had believed with absolute certainty in everything I knew as a child and refused to change these ideas, it would have held me back. It is only through change that we have made it here today," she said.

Embracing uncertainty and change after graduation can be difficult. Many reasons exist to refuse change, she said.

"It takes a lot of courage to change the direction of your life as an adult," Rajsky said. "Fear of not knowing what might happen if you choose to make a change can, in itself, be enough to convince you to stick with what you know, however, progress can never be achieved without change. ... No matter where you go in life, take advantage of every possible opportunity, even if it conflicts with what you thought you would be doing. Progress and happiness are only arrived through change."

Salutatorian Darby McCall said the Class of 2013 began a journey 13 years ago that concludes with the commencement exercises.

"Whether you played on a sports team, marched in the band, acted in the play or captained a debate team, there is something we all have in common, the journey to arrive at our destination," she said.

"Memories have been made along the journey. Years from now when we look back on our high school years, our fondest memories will not be of wins and ovations. They will be of times spent with classmates and friends working toward those wins and ovations. The trips and stumbles on our journey will be just as memorable as the outstanding performances on game day or the perfectly executed lines on opening night."

Darby asked the graduates to reflect back on the times spent with one another, as classmates, teammates, club members and friends.

"As we remember these times spent reaching our destination, let us recall the laughs, the tears, the highs, the lows, the wins and the losses," Darby said.

A stellar tennis player, Darby said when tennis season began, her dad sent her a quote from cancer survivor and noted author Greg Anderson, "Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is not found in finishing an activity, but in doing it."

As the class looks to begin a new journey, Darby recommended the graduates "do not focus so much on your next destination that you forget the journey."

Speeches were also given by Class President Nicholas Wachter, Treasurer Kayla Gradwohl, Secretary Tori Gollie and Vice President Lindsay Syandlick. They reflected on school memories.