MOSES LAKE - Graduation is a time of joy and tears. Searching for family in the crowd and hugging friends. As the more than 360 Moses Lake High School graduates now head off in all directions, to different colleges and cities, it's also a time to reflect. And for the senior class honor speaker Bryce Merkley, reflection takes him all the way back to seventh grade.

Five years have passed, and Merkley still remembers her name, the fellow graduate whom he'd never met, helped him pick up his belongings after tripping in the hallway.

"Papers went flying and notebooks slid across the floor and amidst this horrible moment of personal embarrassment for a timid seventh grader like myself, somebody stopped to help," Merkley said. "I never talked to them before but they bent down, helped me gather my belongings and with a smile went their own way."

"Thanks again Cortney Radocaj for helping me pick my stuff up in the hallway those five years ago."

Merkley, who is heading to Brigham Young University in a year after completing a mission in Brazil, also reflected on his four-years at Moses Lake High School.

"We, as a class, have aced tests, stayed up late doing assignments and fallen asleep on textbooks from sheer exhaustion," he said. "We have courageously hit back the curve balls that high school has thrown at us and we went on to win the game. Once a Chief, always a Chief."

The Class of 2013 holds a special place for Principal Josh Meek. In 2009, the 360 or so graduates first stepped in the halls as high school students, the first year Meek became principle.

"You've reached this special milestone in the journey of life," he said. "For the past 13 years, we've been working hard together to make you grown as a learner and a person."

Meek thanked the students for the memories and accomplishments of the past four years, but also reminded them to always say "thank you" to others. While parents cheered throughout the ceremony, this was the moment for the students to cheer for their parents as they all stood up, clapped and hollered, thanking parents.

As staff and families wiped away tears, senior class speaker Jacob Wells brought laughter to their faces.

He remembered going to recess, playing four-square and participating in the jogathon. Wells also recalled standing on the red dot "a lot" at school (kids are typically placed on the red dot to stand still during a "time out").

"High school is here and gone in a flash. But I seemed to realize over the past four years, high school has taught us so many things. Such as how late we can push things off and procrastinate. And also that "senioritis" is the real deal. I'm surprised I made it here."

Wells, a member of the football team and soon-to-be freshman at Eastern Washington University, gave shout outs to friends and teammates, but also realized how fast high school goes by.

"It's crazy, we all knew this day would come, but we didn't think it would come so fast," he said. "It feels like a dream almost. It hasn't hit me quite yet that we're all here."

After graduates received their diploma, beach balls began to fly, a few threw their hats. And for the last time, the 360 graduates were together, as the Class of 2013.