COAL GROVE — The class of 2012’s song, “Tattoos on This Town” by Jason Aldean, is a reminder for seniors their time at Dawson-Bryant High School won’t be forgotten.

“We let the world know we were here with everything we did. We laid a lot of memories down like tattoos on this town,” the song says.

On Sunday, 92 seniors said their goodbyes to high school and entered adulthood.

Principal Steve Easterling said seeing this class evolve from freshmen into graduates has been like watching a metamorphosis.

“I think they are well prepared for the world and they will be successful,” he said.

The Class of 2012 earned more than $575,000 worth of scholarships.

“They are academically oriented,” Easterling said. “A lot of them are going on to college. It’s been a good class.”

Students Amanda Collins and Lauren Watson posed for photos together in the school’s gym before the ceremony.

“It feels pretty awesome,” Collins said about graduating. “I’m not nervous. I’m excited.”

“Definitely not (nervous),” Watson agreed.

Collins will be headed to Ohio State University this fall to study animal science and will be a little nervous to start a new life there not knowing anyone, but there is nothing she would miss about high school.

Watson said her plan is to attended Collins Career Center and enroll in the LPN program. She said many members of her family have done the same and she wanted to “follow in their footsteps.”

Watson also wants to stay close to home for her little girl, who will be 18 months old in June.

Both Collins and Watson had some advice for the Class of 2013. They said have fun, apply for as many scholarship opportunities as they can and join community service projects.

Graduating student Savannah Bennett also imparted some wisdom.

“Don’t let your life be ruled by other people. Do what you want to do,” she said.

Bennett said she is headed to Marshall University to study psychology.

Superintendent Dennis DeCamp said students should remember their successes and failures from their time in high school and take them as learning experiences.

“That’s what life if full of, successes and failures. Learn from your failures but make the most of your successes,” he said.

DeCamp also encouraged parents of graduates to support their children in their next stage in life.

“Even though they may be 18 or 19 years old, they are still going to have failures along the way and be there to pick them up and dust them off,” DeCamp said.