Although she’s graduating at the top of her class, valedictorian Lisa Liu considers herself an average student who simply tried in high school.

“Hopefully it’s a good one,” Liu said of the impact she wants to leave at Roseville High School. She plans to move east and major in Asian studies at Wellesley College.

Liu was part of a diverse group of more than 400 graduates who marched at Hanson Field during the school’s 97th commencement exercises Friday.

In his address, Principal Brad Basham gave the graduates assurance of what lies ahead.“The wonderful thing about today is that you now have choices. The best ability that you can have is to keep an open mind and be flexible,” Basham said. “You will fail sometimes; that’s just human nature. It is how you overcome those failures that will mark your character.”

Overcoming hardships should very well be credited to graduate Kristen Stites, who was born with cerebral palsy. “I guess mobility and finding myself and overcoming personal obstacles,” Stites said of the hardships she’s encountered. Now that she’s received her high school diploma, Stites plans to attend Sierra College and transfer to UC Davis and eventually become a physician’s assistant.

Class salutatorian Caroline Ann Dozsa said it’s the spirit of the entire class and the “very essence of high school” that she’ll miss the most. Dozsa plans to undergo a five-year master’s program in engineering at the University of the Pacific.

Moments before they marched, graduate Alana Morning said she’s yet to realize what’s about to happen. “I guess it’ll come afterwards,” said Morning, who plans to attend Sierra College and transfer to Biola University to major in political science.

Parents are, needless to say, proud and thrilled to see their children receive their diplomas.

“One more to go,” said parent Tracy Eurie after cheering for her oldest son, Tevin.