The intimate setting of the school gym was the backdrop for the Robinson Class of 2002's walk across stage, with motivational speaker and ex-Denver Bronco Steve Fitzhugh taking the crowd for a roller-coaster ride with humorous ups and real-life downs. Success with significance was a theme.
He broke the silence with a memory when he was a teen.
"Back then I was having a hard time keeping my hat pinned to my afro," he said.
He used audience participation to stress that the grads have opportunity.
"Today you have opportunity and privilege, the responsibility to make the right choice. I guarantee you if you don't have a focus, you will get your world rocked," he said.
Principal Ann Monday noted one teacher, George Juliano, who took advantage of opportunities and earned a teacher’s award this year from Fairfax County.
"He never gave up. He's an inspiration to me," she said.
Some felt like they knew their direction so early in life.
"I'm going to be a teacher. We're starting over, and we need to make the right decision," said graduate Neghar Vaziri, who plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University.
Robinson artist Lauren Fukumitsu also is going in the art direction at VCU.
"I'm going to VCU, where they have an art education major," she said.
Katie Messinger was going to continue her education in the medical field.
"I want to be a psychologist when I grow up," she said.
Ashley Cropper wasn't so sure.
"I don't think anybody knows," she said.
Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) was one of the distinguished guests. She thought direction was a good starting point as well.
"Make sure you pursue something you really like. It's important for me to love the work that I do," she said.
Fitzhugh ended his talk with a hip-hop poem reflecting people that don't make the right choices, called "Where Have All the Children Gone?"
Amanda Ciolino was there to see her brother Joseph. She was with the Class of '96 at Robinson.
"It all depends on the individual. Some people float around when they're 30. College is a good starting point," she said.
Fairfax resident Suzanne Bellan, also a Robinson junior. was seeing friends graduate. She liked the senior class president Ariel Wallingsford's speech about personality types, using the television comedy "Saved By the Bell," as an example.
"I liked the girl’s speech with ‘Saved By the Bell,’" she said but realized life doesn't stay still, even as a high-school junior. "After this it's like the real world," she said.