The moment we thought couldn't come sooner; the moment we daydreamed about every early Monday morning after “one heck of a weekend,” our motivation through every major civics test, and each STAR exam that had us last-second cramming.

With every late bell and every morning bulletin – this moment, looming in the back of our minds, has come too soon.

High school for Candelaria Alcazar, Matthew Brown, Jacob Brumback, Jeremy Burton, Karalena

“Tree Girl” Cole, Stefani "Stevie" Cook, Ryan Cumpston, Leah Davidson, Lisa Davis, Nia Edmonds, Alyssa England, Rebecca "Momo" Englander, Nick Ford, Bianca Frias, Amanda Gamble, Tommy Galli, Derek Grace, Rebecca "Ellie" Hackler, Brandon Haggard, Monica Jackson, Heidi Kratz, Kayellia Lansdowne, Tyler Lawson, Joseph Maninger, Gary Martin, Jeffrey Martin, Christine McQuown, Aaron Mearns, Dylan Nevarez, Nathaniel Oberdorf, Marco Ochoa, Lucas Powell, Raylon Ray, Joel Saldana, Dylan Sheldon, Gerald Stahlman, Tyler Stirling, Erika Streckfuss, Stephanie Trout and Johnathan Truax is over, and on Friday, on their last school bus ride, they had a new destination: the real world where the rest of their lives were waiting.

“These past few years at Carle have been the GREATEST years of our lives, and we are excited to take with us everything we've learned and the friendships we have made along with us on our journey. They say children are the future, and because of Carlé it will be a bright one. We love you all!” said graduates Karalena Cole and Stevie Cook.

“I don't want to grow up!” said graduate “Momo” Englander.

“I wish our years at Carle would never end,” said graduate Christine McQuown.

While the “Years of the Zander” have concluded, and he will be significantly missed, we would like to welcome Carlé's new principal, Dennis To.

“This school year went very fast – it was great. Though it's sad to see Z leave, I look forward to working with Mr. To and meeting the new students,” said Barbara Dye.

Because of Carlé, we all know anything is possible. What we have realized is the very things that kept all of us going, the things that got us here, was our heart, our good times, our energy, our peace, our inspirations, our passion and our beliefs.

It was these significant qualities and attributes that determined what wonderful young men and women we would become.

We would like to honor our teachers one last time – The Heart and The Mommy of Carlé, Barbara Dye; Our “Good Times”' and Simply the Best Principal Ever, Ed Zander; Our Energy and Carlé's First Place Champ, Steve Hammond; Our Peace and The Bee's Knees, Verna Rogers; Our Inspirations and The Free Spirit, Angie Siegel; Our Passion and The Smoothest Songbird, Dan Maes; and last but not least, Our Belief and Our Best Friend, Alan Siegel.

We would also like to greatly thank The Best Counselor Ever, Kim VanHorn for literally ALWAYS being there with a shoulder and a “laugh on cue.”

Without all of you, as well as our friends and family, and if “EddyDidn'tDoIt,” we wouldn't have made it this far.

You are all the best, simple as that. Thank you all for everything!

Congratulations Carlé High School Class of 2011, we made it!

Karalena Cole and Stevie Cook are graduates of Carlé Continuation High School in Lower Lake, Calif.