Lisa Clark was getting some final snapshots of her daughter, Kayla Clark, and her friend, Kim Bailey, early Saturday evening.

Already in their red Rock Hill High School graduation robes with 2012 emblazoned on the top of their mortarboards, they posed in the side yard of the high school.

“Pretty pumped,” is how Kayla described how she was feeling just 90 minutes before the 7 p.m. graduation.

That’s just how her friend felt as well.

“I’m excited because I finally made it,” Kim said.

Both women plan to start at Ohio University Southern in the fall. Kayla wants to study nursing, but Kim’s not so sure what she wants to study.

“I’m thinking about education,” she said.

Everywhere on the porches of the high school students were taking photos, putting on their robes and hugging family and friends.

Drew Kidd and Jonathan Schob will both start college with baseball scholarships. Drew is going to Shawnee State University to study physical therapy while Jonathan wants to major in education eventually to become a coach.

“There is a mixture of sadness and happiness,” Drew said. “This is the last time I will get to see my friends.”

But Jonathan saw the night in an all-positive light.

“I’m happy,” he said. “I’m ready to leave.”

Nearby, their parents watched their sons as they waited to take their places in the gymnasium.

“I’m feeling a little old, but still young,” John Schob said as he joked with Jerry Kidd.

“I’m feeling relief,” Kidd said. “We are exiting one state of his life and going onto the next stage.”