Seniors Encouraged to Seize the Day [VIDEO]

The atmosphere was jubilant Saturday morning as the Merrimack High School Class of 2011 punched beach balls in the air at the end of their commencement cermony.

Cheers punctuated the air as music blared from the sound system set up on the athletic field behind the school. Students ran to hug their friends, lit up celebratory cigars and posed for pictures with friends and family, celebrating one of the biggest milestones of their young lives.

"Basically, this is the greatest day of my life," Ian Currier, 18, said smiling from ear to ear.

Currier said he's happy to start working toward his career.

"I want to be a paleontologist. That is my dream," Currier said.

Jennifer Naber was also excited, though she wondered what the future would hold. The 19-year-old is headed to Johnson and Wales in Colorado this fall.

"I'll miss the people here," she said. "We've been here for four years and now we're going off to a new place, you know no one…"

As the Class of 2011 heads off for new things, Principal Kenneth Johnson spoke to them of the choices they've made and the ones they will make.

"Life is about making good choices," Johnson said.

He spoke of decisions made by prominent public figures: George Washington choosing to run for President, Rosa Parks choosing not to give up her seat on the bus and President Barack Obama when he chose to give out the order to "take out the world's most wanted terrorist."

And he spoke of the choices made by students at the school. Mitchell Cook chose to enter the armed services following graduation "to do something good for our country," Johnson said to a cheering crowd.

He elicited more cheers speaking of the seniors on the Merrimack hockey team that chose to play hockey for the school and helped lead the high school to its first-ever championship game in the sport, "the same year the Bruins won the Stanley Cup."

And of the of the students who chose to participate on the Science Olympiad team, which has seen tremendous success in it's first three years.

"Thank you Mr. Wheeler for starting this program three years ago," Johnson said. "You and your students have changed this school."

"All of these kids that sit by my side have made this a better place to learn and to grow," Johnson said. "…Let your experiences here at Merrimack High School always challenge you to believe, go forward and inspire."

Valedictorian Kara Jolly continued the theme of choice in her address to her classmates and the attendees at the ceremony.

Quoting author J.K. Rowling's character Albus Dumbledore, of the "Harry Potter" book series she said, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

She encouraged her classmates to make the right choices -- "small choices can lead to big impacts" -- and to remember that not to decide is to decide -- "Think about that the next time you have a choice to make."

Jolly also shared some wisdom with her classmates that she says she learned from her father.

"Seize the day," she told them. "It's your life that you're living, so make it what you want it to be."

And class president Michael Murgo suggested that the world may be a better place if more people chose to emulate his "hero" Lady Gaga.

Murgo spoke of Lady Gaga's philanthropic work and the message she spreads of individuality through her music and perhaps her taste in clothing.

“Perhaps if we emulated Lady Gaga, without the meat dress, then we, too, could make the world a better place,” Murgo said.

Murgo worked quotes from several of Lady Gaga's song into his speech, to the delight of his classmates, sharing the message to "just dance" and to "rejoice and love yourself today, ‘cause baby you were born this way."

Murgo also took the time to thank another hero in his life before closing his speech -- his mother.

"Mom, I can tell you for a fact that I wouldn't be at this point in my life without you. You're the most caring person I know, you're the strongest person I know. You've gone through so much and yet you still find the energy and motivation to the most selfless and the most significant inspiration in my life. I love you, mom. Thank you."

Then, addressing the Class of 2011, under a beautifully sunny sky, Murgo imparted his final words.

"Well MHS Class of 2011, we've done it. Congratulations to you all. May you all lead rich and prosperous lives and never forget your valuable times here at Merrimack High School. And as Lady Gaga would say, 'Today, we are truly on the edge of glory.' "