NILES — The Niles High School class of 2018 will leave behind far more than memories.

Throughout their four years, many of those students worked hard to cultivate inspiration and better their school. That was the resounding message during a graduation commencement ceremony that took place Thursday night at the high school, 1441 Eagle St.

Hundreds packed the bleachers, cheering as 186 graduates poured onto the football field wearing graduation gowns and caps

Prior to receiving their diplomas and ceremoniously moving their tassels, students reflected on all they had accomplished. The audience heard speeches from Alec Janowski, the class valedictorian, Lindsay Eichenberg a Top 10 student and Kelly Bickel, the 2018 class president.

Looking out over the audience, Bickel said the students sitting before her were a unique bunch.

“Among those 187 student, sits two Miss Niles queens that served our community, four drum majors that helped instruct various shows and concerts, and one national merit finalist that raised the bar for all of us,” Bickel said.

She also recognized the achievements of high school athletes, including the seven volleyball players who helped make a name for the high school by achieving district and regional titles for the first time in the school’s history and many others who helped to create a legacy for Niles.

With this much accomplished, Bickel predicted the Class of 2018 was not done blazing a trail yet.

“Athletes and academics, yearbook presidents and homecoming queens, robotics captains and musical stars, soccer team leaders and sound cloud rappers: It is these people and more that make up the Class of 2018, a class that is and will continue to change the world,” Bickel said.

She credited teachers, administrators and staff for equipping students with the tools to make a difference.

“This school, and the people within it, have made us into who we are today,” Bickel said. “Niles High School has prepared us for the challenges and obstacles we will face in the future, taught us countless lessons about education and about life, and given us friendships and memories that we will never forget.”

Janowski echoed this sentiment in his speech.

“Additionally, even though we are finally starting our lives as adults, we still owe our respect to the older and wiser leaders who have helped us get where we are,” Janowski said. “Many of us owe our success in high-school to such leaders — the many hardworking teachers, coaches, and faculty here at Niles.”

Finally, since Bickel was only permitted three minutes to speak, she said she wanted to leave students with three pieces of advice.

“Advice number one: embrace the fact that you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing, because at this point none of us do,” Bickel said. “Advice number two: make mistakes because as cheesy as it may seem those mistakes are what you’ll learn from the most. And advice number three: in the words spoke to me countless times by my mother, ‘Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.’”

Like Bickel and Janowski, Eichenberg encouraged students to use their education to make a positive impact on society.

Eichenberg recalled a life changing moment in her high school career, when she was facing a challenging time balancing her school responsibilities and letting it get the best of her attitude. When a teacher asked her ‘When did you let the world change your perspective on life?’ Eichenberg realized she could not control the things that happened to her, but she could control her response. She told students to be the change on the world and not the other way around.

“When we see each other next and I ask ‘When did you let the world change yourperspective on life?’ I hope you can respond ‘I haven’t!’” Eichenberg said.