AUGUSTA — Cody Whitcomb, captain of the Gardiner Area High School track team, told the class of 2012 that crossing the finish line is like walking across the stage to receive their high school diplomas — a substantial achievement, but don’t forget the strides you took to reach it.

Whitcomb, the class salutatorian, was one of 147 Gardiner students who graduated Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

“Let’s savor the four years of hard work, the memories with friends and faculty, as well as every other aspect of high school,” he said. “For once, let’s take the opportunity to slow down before stepping over that finish line, because there is only one chance to cross it.”

The 17-year-old graduate from Pittston will attend Colby College as a biology major in the fall. He plans to go on to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.

As Whitcomb waited for the commencement procession to begin, he said he was excited about graduating, but a little nervous about leaving high school.

“It’s such a big step in life,” he said.

And yet, Whitcomb told his classmates that while they have all come to the finish line and feel as if they had just run the Boston Marathon, the beginning of a new race is just around the corner, and “we must embrace it.”

Whitcomb wasn’t the only graduate excited and at the same time anxious about the future.

Hannah Kavanaugh, 18, from Gardiner, said she worries about finding a job after college. She will attend University of Maine at Farmington in the fall and hopes to go on to graduate school for theoretical physics.

“It’s scary,” she said. “We just hear about it all the time, how bad everything is out there. We’re told that a lot. But Farmington has a good career placement program, so I’m hoping they’ll be able to help me.”

Her classmate Cody St. Amand, of Gardiner, has been accepted at the University of Maine, at Orono, where he will study mechanical engineering technology.

The 18-year-old said he also worries about job prospects after college with the struggling economy.

“It’s hard to tell what it will look like in four years,” he said. “I don’t know what kind of jobs are going to be good and what ones are going to be bad, but I think that I’ll come through it just fine.”

Josh Ouellette, 18, of Gardiner, foresaw no problem finding a job after college. Ouellette said after he graduates from Kennebec Valley Community College and becomes a licensed electrician, there will be plenty of work.

“There’s a lot of jobs out there for electricians,” he said, “so I’ll be needed.”

Valedictorian Autumn Ortiz, a member of the National Honor Society, reflected on her high school experience. She told graduates brains can only get them part of the way. They can work hard, but the key to success — she has come to realize after four years of high school — is so much more.

“Four years ago I never thought I would become the person I am today,” she said. “I can easily say that the greatest influence has come from those whom I have reached out to for help.

“As we go forth into the next chapter of our lives, let’s all take a look at our past relationships and strive to push ourselves as we move forward. Let’s learn how to reach out to others for help.”

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

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