UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Almost 600 Proctor High School seniors received their diplomas at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday as the Class of 2012 walked down the aisle, looking back on their four years of hard work and the friends they've made along the way.

"Just thinking about it yesterday, freaking and thinking about all the good memories from Freshman, Sophomore, Junior year, and then Senior year was an extra kick up to this day," says graduate Valentin Rodriguez.

The day of celebration brought mixed emotions to the graduates as they looked forward to the next chapter of their lives.

"I'm excited, but I'm a wreck inside," says graduate Megan Polinski who plans to attend Mohawk Valley Community College. "This is like, the last time I'll see all my friends,"

The graduates said they were excited and nervous for what's to come, but ready for whatever it may be.

"I think that Proctor has gotten me ready with all the AP courses and that has prepared us for college," says Polinski.

Proctor High School Principal Steven Falchi shared the students mixed emotions during commencement.

"You hate to see the kids go, you get to know them," says Falchi. "We have a Valedictorian who's going to Harvard. We have kids that are going all over New York state, all over the United States and we definitely will miss them, but we wish them the best of luck."