Photos: The largest graduating class in Anderson County, TL Hanna High School, graduates 480

Most of the seats with a view of the 480 graduates on the Littlejohn Coliseum floor were filled with family and friends Tuesday in Clemson.

The venue, different from the years through the COVID-19 pandemic in which an outdoor graduation was held in the school football stadium, was filled with people cheering for graduates.

Salutatorian Ananya Shreshta Velan encouraged graduates to keep an open mind to trying an idea that could change the world. "One person can make all the difference. Keep your eyes and minds open and take advantage of every opportunity you come across because you will never know which one will completely change the world."

Valedictorian Ally Palmer Jones said that entering high school was the beginning of learning something new and meeting new teachers and classmates.

She said the learning continues, as moving on might include learning to do loads of laundry and other challenges. "When we were younger, our parents and teachers always told us to be kind to others. While this is important, today I am reminding you to always be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself for making mistakes and don't judge yourself too harshly. Always remember that you are human and you're never expected to be perfect," she added. "Always embrace the challenges ahead."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Photos: The largest graduating class in Anderson County, TL Hanna High School, graduates 480