Arcadia High School celebrated its class of 2025 this week at Santa Anita Park Race Track.

The event, on a breezy Thursday touted the accomplishments of a class that saw 799 graduates who brought smiles, pride, tears and adoring loved ones with them.

In time, many will go off to big universities, some will stay closer to home. But all took a new step into the future while celebrating their pasts this week.

Among them was Max Ma, the class valedictorian, who earned all A’s for his entire high school career.

He will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall, pursuing a degree in molecular and cell biology. According to the district, his passion for biology grew throughout his years in Biology Olympiad, but with his love for political science and his perennial interest in math, he hopes to potentially pursue a double major, aiming to focus on continuing to “learn and expand.”

It’s the genuine love of learning that Ma hoped would also inspire his peers; as he puts it, “learning never ends,” and one’s reason and motive for learning always takes precedence over any accomplishment, even the title of valedictorian.

Jolee Kuo, president of the class of 2025, also shared some insight.

“It’s difficult to grasp how our lives are about to change,” she said. She reminisced on the “never again” moments of high school — finding a nice spot for lunch, a daily waive to a favorite teacher, time with friends, walking through jam packed hallways.

Kuo urged her fellow students to have courage in the “new life” they are embarking on. And to bring love with them on the way.

“The fact is every single one of us is so full of love … . Let it be what you put forth into the world and your future,” she said.

And with that, they went forth — a new world. New possibilities.