In my job, I cover a lot of different events that I once experienced in younger years, and it’s always enjoyable to celebrate them again. This past Saturday, I attended the Bainbridge State College’s spring graduation, where 375 students earned their degrees and diplomas.

Even though I didn’t have a family member in the group, I still felt a sense of pride to see all these young adults (and a few older adults) who had made the conscious decision to advance their education. I am sure that many of them have families and other responsibilities that required them to truly sacrifice time and energy to achieve their academic goals.

I graduated eight years ago and I still fondly remember that day. It was truly special to have my family make the trip up to the Notre Dame college campus, to take countless photos of me in my cap and gown in front of various campus landmarks. I still look at those photos every now and then and remember that truly happy day. I also remember attending the graduations of my brother and sister — and even my mother, who went back to school and earned her degree at Jacksonville State University in Alabama — and being just as proud of them.

Next week, more than 300 high-school seniors will graduate from Bainbridge High School and Grace Christian Academy, and it will no doubt be a special week for them as well. Earning a high-school diploma shows a lot of responsibility and hard work, and these students deserve our congratulations for their achievements. As the world becomes more and more technologically advanced, the requirements for graduation get tougher and tougher. I’m sure there are quite a few of us who would have trouble with some of the end-of-course tests and graduation exams that these young bright minds have had to tackle.

I know it is sometimes a cliché, but these young people really are our future. They will be the leaders of our nation, the business people who develop new innovations, and the labor force that provides customer service for all of us. Their successes will make the world a better place for everyone, and I wish the Class of 2013 the best of luck wherever their future paths may take them.