ORANGE PARK – After a long road with plenty of twists and turns throughout their four-year experience, Pace Center for Girls Class of 2023 finally celebrates on Friday.

Seniors were honored at a Highpoint Community Church graduation ceremony, with students recognized for their hard work and dedication to the finish line.

Sarah Waldin, the class Salutatorian, thanked all involved – but most of all, her classmates.

“Finally, to my friends, you guys helped me the most, gave me laughs when I was sad, helped me when I was down, celebrated me during the good times, and congratulated me for accomplishing my goals. I’m proud of all of us for reaching this milestone. Once again, congratulations to our Class of 2023. We made it,” she said.

Waldin spent her first one and a half years in a traditional public school, and things didn’t go well.

“You can ask anyone: when I came in, I was just terrible. I wasn’t waking up in the morning, and I wasn’t eating. I was miserable,” Waldin said.

Now, Waldin graduated one year early with plans of becoming a pilot.

It wouldn’t have been possible without Pace, whose special attention helped flip the script.

“It helped so much because public school just wasn’t getting it done. (Pace) provided the kind of attention I needed. I struggled with staying on track, but the personal relationship with my teachers helped me stay on track,” she said.

Each graduate received a personalized video recorded by staff members for their accomplishments and the unique personality traits that make them so special.

When administrators asked if any students would like to speak at the end of the ceremony, Shaylah Atwell was one of the first to volunteer.

Atwell’s message to graduates: “Don’t give up and never look back. Keep going. Don’t let this be your end, because it’s not your end,” she said.

The senior wants to become a labor and delivery nurse and will enroll at the University of North Florida.

The journey of the goal-oriented senior was smooth at Pace, only lasting three months.

Atwell never knew what would be in store for her when she first joined the all-girls academy.

She made lifelong friends and lasting memories and learned plenty of life lessons.

“(At first) I just wanted to get my diploma and head out,” she said.

She quickly realized he classmates were struggling, too, so she immediately stepped in to help.

“I realized that there were other people with different problems, so I slowed down and tried to help everyone else,” she said.

Atwell doesn’t regret a single moment. She said the experience taught her kindest, compassion, patience and humility.

According to Pace, it provides a year-round education, counseling and life skills training for a comprehensive and individualized experience for middle and high school-age girls.

Katelyn Stocks, Academic Coordinator, led the ceremonies.

Stocks taught each graduate. She tried to hold back tears at the ceremony.

“‘I was thinking, ‘Don’t cry, don’t cry.’” she said.

She’s immensely proud of the students for battling through the journey, and the future is bright for Pace’s most recently-graduated class.

“Knowing who they were when they first came here and who they are now, it’s a radical difference. I’m so excited. They’re going to do great things. This is an unprecedented class. If they can endure COVID, they can achieve anything,” she said.

County Commissioner Alexandra Compere was the keynote speaker.

Compere spoke directly to the group, noting they should take a moment to celebrate a moment that took countless challenges to reach.

Her next lesson for graduates was to lean on their network of support in the local community as much as possible as they begin to shoot for their goals and dreams.

She then read a quote from Napoleon Hill.

“There is a difference between wishing for a thing and being ready to receive it. No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can require it. The state of mind must be belief, not a hope or a wish,” she said.

Compete ended her address by saying: “As we look forward to the future, we look forward with hope, we look forward with optimism, and we look forward with excitement.”