NATCHEZ — Aaron Day arrived at his graduation ceremony an hour and a half early. His eagerness to part ways with Adams County Christian School was partly to blame.

“We’re not supposed to be here until 6:45,” Day said as he stood outside First Baptist Church. “My girlfriend’s passing out the programs.”

Day’s senior year was his first at ACCS, having transferred from Natchez High School. He played middle linebacker for the Rebels football team. Day said he will miss football “even though we lost every game.”

One by one, Day’s 33 classmates trickled into the church parking lot with caps and gowns in hand. Donning a blue ACCS baseball cap, Luke Brumfield is “ready to get it over with.” He plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and play baseball. Like Day, Brumfield said he’ll miss school athletics, basketball specifically.

In the church lobby, Brittany Johnson let out a sorrowful sigh as she pondered the past four years of her life.

“I’m kind of sad. Excited, but sad,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s here.”

Johnson, who will attend Co-Lin and transfer to Alcorn State University to study nursing, said she’ll miss her friends the most.

“I’ve gone to school with them since kindergarten and pre-school,” she said.

Paul Delaney echoed Johnson’s sentiments. Delaney plans to attend Co-Lin in Wesson and transfer to Mississippi State University, where he’ll major in wildlife and fisheries with a minor in electricity.

“I’m going to miss all the people I’ve grown up with. The ones I won’t be able to see,” he said.

Chelsey Edwards, senior class president, prayed that she wouldn’t trip in her very fashionable black high heels, a staple of the ACCS girls’ graduation attire. Edwards plans to attend Co-Lin in Wesson to study nursing because “nurses make bank.”

Henry Philip Frank IV, affectionately known as “Slick” to his classmates, plans to attend Co-Lin and study criminal justice. Today he and his classmates are en route to Panama City Beach, Fla., for a parent-chaperoned senior class trip.

“We’ll be there for seven days. I probably won’t come back,” Frank said.

The church lobby buzzed with excitement as the graduates took pictures with proud parents and grandparents. The clock struck 7:30, and it was time for ACCS’ 38th graduating class to line up.

History teacher Gill Morris tapped each graduate on the right shoulder — a signal to walk down the aisle before family and friends and enter the next chapter of their lives.