WINTHROP -- Kayla Frechette stood proudly in her white gown at the front of a gymnasium packed full of friends, family, classmates and teachers all gussied up for graduation and admitted a mistake.

She had it all wrong when she first moved to the small town of Winthrop.

"Winthrop was the last place I wanted to be when I moved here six years ago," Frechette said. "I was wrong. Very wrong. My friends and classmates turned into my family. Before I moved to Winthrop, I had never been part of anything like that before. I bet you never thought I'd say this, but thank you, mom and dad, for moving me here."

Winthrop High School's 78 new graduates took to the post-high school world in style, a bright sun shining off their green and white gowns as they received congratulations from family and friends following graduation Sunday afternoon.

Each graduate received their diploma as student speaker Meghan McCarthy read off their name and their immediate plans for after graduation. Most had plans to further their educations.

McCarthy, in her speech, said she struggled to come up with advice for her classmates. She said she "Googled," or searched on the Internet, for good advice, but didn't find much of value she could pass on. She did, however, offer to share the list of what she found with anyone who wanted to see it after the ceremony.

"I'm 18 years old. I can't stand up here and give advice," she said, finishing, later, by saying: "Even though I can't give you advice, or predict the future, I can wish all of you the best of luck. And tell all of you how fortunate we all are."

The graduates entered the hot gymnasium and marched, in step with each other, down the center aisle as underclassmen held flowers over the soon-to-be-graduates' heads.

Parents and other family members and friends vied for the best spot from which to take photographs of graduates as they received their diplomas. Many students mugged for the camera after getting their diploma from Principal Kevin Harrington and other school officials.

Graduates took the stage together to sing their class song, "Come Sail Away," by Styx.

The high school's three foreign exchange students each made remarks.

Keita Yamasaki, of Japan, said his English has improved dramatically since August.

"And I have a new accent too," he joked. "Thanks to all you Mainers."

Several young men who graduated threw their caps into the air after they were officially declared graduates.

The graduates walked out of the packed gymnasium at the close of the ceremony as John Mellencamp's "Small Town" blared over the speakers.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com