BY AMY CALDER

Staff Writer

NORTH ANSON -- Brittany Morin and Karen Lightbody will never have to fear going off to school, becoming homesick and having to find new friends.

The 17-year-old Carrabec High School graduates, best friends since childhood, plan to attend cosmetology school together at the Capilo Institute in Augusta.

"Our moms were best friends when we were newborns, and we became best friends at 3 years old," Morin said Sunday, as the pair rushed into the high school gymnasium before graduation exercises Sunday.

Lightbody's white graduation cap flew off her head in a billowy breeze. She said she and Morin, both Embden residents, were very excited about graduating.

"It feels like a huge accomplishment," Lightbody said. "I worked so hard these past four years, and it's going to feel really good to get a diploma in my hand."

They were among 48 seniors to graduate from Carrabec, which serves students in the School Administrative District 74 towns of Anson, Embden, New Portland, North Anson and Solon.

The excitement was palpable Sunday. Senior Carly Burguess, 18, floated about in her gown as family and friends filed into the gymnasium, where she chatted with school staff members.

"I'm going to Andover College in Portland to study travel and hospitality," said Burguess, of New Portland. "It's a two-year course, and I'm planning on working on a cruise ship. I've always wanted to do that."

She said her high school career, which she enjoyed a lot, flew by.

"It went so fast -- it went ridiculously fast," she said. "I wouldn't trade any of it for the world, and my friends, of course, -- I wouldn't trade any of them for the world."

Burguess credited Chris Poulin, her Jobs for Maine Graduates teacher, with being a major influence on her throughout her high school years.

"He was just there for me the whole time," she said. "He helped me with college applications and he helped me through personal problems."

The seniors chose English teacher Dallas Landry to speak.

He told them that as graduates, they close one door on their lives and open new ones. He elaborated on the door theme, describing the merits and pitfalls of all sorts of doors they may encounter in life -- double doors, Dutch doors, French doors, revolving doors, and so on. A revolving door, for instance, can spin a person out, but it also allows one to start again, he said.

"Moving through doors and crossing thresholds can be a metaphor for the choices we make in life," he said.

He suggested that the graduates, instead of rushing out the gymnasium doors for the last time, stop half-way and look back at those who will remain.

He suggested they look back at what they leave behind, hold their heads high and move proudly through the doors, knowing new ones will surface.

"Open those doors, class of 2009, and step into your future," he said.

Landry received a rousing, standing ovation from the crowd.

Principal Kenneth Coville said before the graduation that Landry has taught at the school a long time.

"He's been here at least a dozen years. He's a very popular teacher. He's down-to-earth, level-headed, accessible."

2009 Carrabec Graduates:

James Laurence Adley, David John Akers III, Megan Lynne Arsenault, Ahnna-Balai Arielle Beane, Natasha Elizabeth Beane, Lucas Bray Brown, Carlene Eva Burguess, Danny Jared Burns, Jonathan Eric Carrara, Misty Rose Clifford, Karissa Kay Cote, Suzanne Marie Cote, Zachary Steven Daoust, Patrick Spencer Daubenberger, Joey Robert Diamond, Katrina May Esty, Jordan Thomas Fortin, Kayla Jae Giroux, Debra Lynn Gray, Bryan Michael James, Jr., Shawn Donald Keenan, Brian Walter Kirkwood, Dustin James Kniffin, Amanda Mae Labbe, Chelsie Marie Lawrence, Karen Jean Lightbody, Nathan Monroe Manzer, Kristen Michelle McLean, Brittany Lynn Morin, Kyle Daniel Mullin, Megan Elizabeth Murray, Sarah Rose Nadeau, Joseph Pierce Neill, Rodney Harold Pinkham, Jr., Erica Dawn Pound, Courtnee Marie Rich, Christopher Allan Savage, Thomas Scott Shaw, Jacob Albert Sincyr, Kareen Lynn Sparrow, Danika Mandy Staples, Joshua Allen Stickney, Emily Anne Warner, Mellinda Laura Wells, Tiffany Michelle White and Joshua Michael Young.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com