As one chapter ends, another begins

-- The editors

In the beginning, they were together -- all of them in the same homeroom

at Newport Harbor High. It was fall 1996, freshman year for the Class of

2000.

But the students, handpicked by the Daily Pilot to take readers on a

personal, up-close journey through the highs and lows of high school

life, branched off quickly after that year, never again together as one

group. They learned to drive, some got jobs and one transferred to

another school. Some played sports while others dreamed of Ivy League

educations or traveling through Europe. Some fell in love and most

dreaded taking the SAT test.

This week, the Class of 2000 graduates. The dreams haven’t changed, but

the road map -- how each will get from here to there -- has been redrawn.

Excitement now overrides anxiety and a sense of relief has settled over

the classmates. But reality looms.

For the last installment in the series and a look back at the original

group of students, see Pages 6 and 7.