Graduating classes all across Central New York are in the final days of their high school careers. Soon, they’ll be walking across the stage to receive their diplomas and turning their tassels with their classmates.

As the mother of a high school student, I know just how hard they have worked for this moment. They spent the past four years studying late into the night for exams, overcoming difficult subjects, representing their school on the athletic field and learning how to navigate the ins and outs of adolescence. This is a moment they should be proud of. They did it.

While celebrating how much they’ve already achieved, it’s important to also look forward to all the future holds. Commencement isn’t the end, it’s a beginning. Each of their paths is going to be different. As I signed nearly 5,000 New York State Assembly merit certificates these students have earned, I thought about their futures; some will take a job right out of school, others will go on to college and some will give back to the community before choosing their path.

As your representative, I’ll keep fighting to make sure that our high school graduates have a bright future ahead, whether it’s making college more affordable, securing investments in career and technical education or ensuring that our economy provides good-paying jobs. These are our future leaders, and I’ll keep building a solid foundation for them to build successful futures.

Good luck to our high school graduates. Be prepared and flexible because opportunities are right around the corner. Central New York is cheering them on in the next chapter.