and#8220;Although we are small, our hearts are large,and#8221; quoted salutatorian Amy Leininger to her fellow classmates, North Tahoe High School’s Class of 2009. and#8220;We may have been one of the smallest classes but we were also one of the most influential. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re going to do without us.and#8221;

As 70 graduating seniors and hundreds more friends and family members listened Tuesday evening from the stands of North Tahoe’s football field, co-valedictorians Anja Wittels, Hilary Stoner and Arielle Younger each delivered a speech punctuated by a few jokes, many bits of wisdom and countless class memories.

and#8220;2009 is the year of twos and#8230; for instance, it is the last year in this millennium to have the double-zeroes in the middle,and#8221; joked Wittels, putting on a pair of and#8220;2009and#8221; glasses. and#8220;Classes in the future won’t be as stylish as us and#8230; unless maybe you’re one-eyed.and#8221;

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and#8220;Be safe, have fun and don’t be afraid to come home,and#8221; said Stoner. and#8220;Because Tahoe isn’t going anywhere.and#8221;

and#8220;It’s hard to believe we’ve lived 18 years,and#8221; said Younger. and#8220;Yet I don’t see the glass as a quarter empty, but three-quarters full. We are still young, and ready to take the world by storm.and#8221;

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The school’s principal, Bill Frey, had some fatherly wisdom to share with the class before they finally turned their tassels.

and#8220;You’re never going to have everything you need in place to be successful. But you will be successful if you use everything you have.and#8221;