MUSCATINE, Iowa — The time has come for Muscatine High School’s class of 2009 to face the monster hiding in the dark.

Valedictorian Tyler Hagy reflected on childhood memories during his commencement address Sunday.

“The monsters were a fear of something else — the unknown,” Hagy said. “The future is the biggest unknown to man.”

That’s the journey 358 graduating seniors began Sunday with a handshake and toss of the gold tassels on their purple mortarboards.

Emily Lofgren crossed the stage just seconds before her younger sister Olivia.

“It’s kind of cool,” said Emily, 18. “I never thought we would be graduating together, but it’s happening.”

Olivia, 17, graduated one year early and will study education next year at Muscatine Community College.

Emily plans to double major in broadcast news and law, politics and society next year at Drake University in Des Moines.

The sisters were closer when they were younger, Emily said, but have their own interests and personalities now.

“Today we look back at the past,” said Senior Class President Johnnie Jindrich.

“This is the last time we will all be together,” she said, but “as the graduating class of 2009, we won’t dwell on the past or look too far into the future.”

Said Valedictorian Nancy Huddleston, “Now, since the past is who you are, you cannot let it hold you back.”

She said graduates should “stop, take a breath and live in the moment.”

When that moment passes, Hagy said, “all of us will be starting the next great chapter in our lives.”

Some graduates will go on to college, some to work in factories and others away to train at boot camp, he said.

Said Superintendent Tom Williams, “Every single one of you has the potential to do something great.”