This week, most of our county’s graduates will walk across a stage, basketball court or football field to accept a diploma. That simple walk, probably no more than a few yards, will take them from their childhood and teenage years into their futures.

Lionel Watkins of Montevallo High School will be one of those graduates. He will walk across the stage of Palmer Auditorium on the University of Montevallo campus and into (at least) four years at Duke University, studying biomedical engineering.

Oak Mountain High School senior Ameen Barghi, who has already received early acceptance into medical school at UAB, will walk across the floor at his future university’s Bartow Arena. At Vincent High School’s graduation, Sinthia Walker will march into a future protecting our country in the Navy.

On Friday morning at the Indian Springs School graduation, Sara Clark will begin a future she’s designed to perfection, right down to studying textile and design at North Carolina State and starting her own line of clothing, purses and jewelry.

Class of 2011, we know you all have your own dreams and your own goals to pursue. Some of you will go on to college, some to the military, some to apprenticeships and some to figure out what the next step is. All of those directions are fine. You don’t have to plan out your entire future at 18. Trust us, eventually you’ll get to where you need to be.

We wish all of Shelby County’s recent and soon-to-be graduates the best of luck going forth. With Shelby County’s excellent track record, there’s a good chance we’ll see some members of the class of 2011 go on to change the world, in ways both big and small.

Good luck and congratulations to you all!

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.