'Shape Your Destiny': Lake Braddock Says Goodbye to the Class of 2013

Surrounded by their family, friends, teachers and loved ones, around 600 high school seniors from Lake Braddock Secondary School received their diplomas Wednesday at the 2013 Lake Braddock Secondary School Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony was held at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax.

"Lake Braddock will forever be part of who are," senior Sophie Chase said in her honor graduate speech to her classmates. "We are a class of definers. We have to never stop defining ourselves." 

Watch video of some of Chase's speech in the media player above.

Cloaked in purple robes and caps, the students sat and listened intently to each of the speeches from their classmates and teachers before they received their diplomas and were declared alumni of Lake Braddock.

"We need your energy, your optimism, and your enthusiasm," said Lake Braddock Principal David Thomas, who also urged the class of 2013 to "shape their destiny" and help create some good in the world.

Departing Lake Braddock Health and Physical Education Teacher Rocky Carter, who delivered the guest speaker commencement speech told the graduates to "learn from his generation's mistakes" and not to "take anything for granted" as they entered this new phase of their life.
Watch video of some of Carter's speech in the media player above.

"Life isn't fair and it owes you absolutely nothing," Carter said. "You're going to fail at for some things; it's inevitable. But it's not the worst thing."

Toward the end of the speech, Carter became emotional as he recalled his memories with the class of 2013. Like the graduates, Wednesday was Carter's last day as a Bruin.

"Every single one of you has given me an incredible going away gift. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart," said Carter. "Do the right thing. You're going to be so awesome at it."

More: Photos from Lake Braddock Secondary School 2013 Graduation