Every ending is a new beginning. Every locked door sends you searching for others where your key will fit. Every goodbye wave is a salute to something new. Graduation isn't the grand finale, it's the grand opening.

Today, I'm walking through Arapahoe High School's commencement ceremonies at Littleton Public Schools Stadium. It's hard to believe that four short years ago I started at Arapahoe, embracing it with open arms, and now I am I walking away from it for Colorado State University in Fort Collins. So much has happened in these four years; so much has changed. I have changed.

Graduation means leaving behind people who have invested their energy, hopes, dreams and love into me for broader horizons. Those who have shared their time with me are the ones who have changed me into who I am today. Here I am, writing my last column, which must be dedicated to those who have raised me up.

From kindergarten to eighth grade at St. Thomas More Parish School two individuals impacted me at an early age. Principal Thoy Smith who was only there for a few years took an interest in me early on and was never too busy to talk with me in her office, or too professional to not hang some ugly drawing I gave her up on her door. Also, my second grade teacher Sheri Funderburk will always be someone I will think of fondly. Even after the second grade we have still kept in contact, and her nurturing will always be remembered.

In high school so many teachers have shaped who I am through their constant encouragement, and I couldn't move on without thanking them for all they have done for me: Patricia Condon for her uncontainable sense of humor - witty retorts will stick with me, and have taught me never to fear speaking the truth as long as it's funny. Mark Hampshire, who first encouraged me to begin Honors classes at Arapahoe and believed I could succeed at a higher educational caliber and Shauna Hurt, who was never afraid to let people know what she was thinking, have both become characters I will miss.

Principal Ron Booth's unwavering support in all I have done has made me so grateful for my experience at Arapahoe. I will miss receiving notes requesting my presence in his office in class -while everyone would always assume I was in trouble I had the pleasure of smiling and knowing it was for something good. He has never treated me as anything less than a friend.

Clarissa Crozier, who is practically iconic in the realm of high school journalism, will always be permeated in my mind. Her countless hours of editing stories, reading captions with a magnifying glass and eternal passion for everything she does has made me realize my own dreams. It's crazy but you'd never think that in between having your newspaper stories slaughtered by her red pens and jumping when she called your name you'd find a mentor who encourages not by spoon feeding, but by forcing her students to discover their true potential.

To all my friends, and the 2008 graduating class of Arapahoe High School, thank you for making my last four years memorable. The joy each of you brought it my life is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My high school experience with you guys was completely insane, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Outside of school many others have encouraged me along the way, including the neighbors who I have grown up with. Matt and Nancy Wilcox, Wade and Eleanor Jones, Tony and Cathleen Mercado, Chris and Bobbie Louis and the rest of Homestead Farm II who have donated to my countless door-to-door fundraisers, properly dodged me when I am driving through the neighborhood and have never complained when I have so many people over at my house the parked cars narrow the street one way road.

Lori Rase, who has been a family friend for years, has also supported me all my life through both joyous and challenging times; her natural grace and humility reminds me every day how wonderful life is with a friend like her. "If life is a newspaper, God is the Editor-in-Chief," Lori once said to me. I will never forget that.

Both my grandparents, Carmelo and Marilynn Glaviano, have through the years been my biggest fans. Permanent fixtures at all my athletic events, they have always been there for me cheering me on in whatever I have done. Together, they probably have the largest composition of all newspaper articles, columns, school reports and art projects. I don't know why they save them, but they've never lost interest in what I've been up to. I will always be grateful for their love and support.

Of course, I have to thank my parents, Bruce and Janet Robinson, for everything they have ever done for me. The amazing opportunities I have had are only because of their hard work and tireless dedication to making sure my life is all it can be. Only from them do I get my brutal honesty, spontaneous personality and infectious laugh. I am truly a product of their insanity, and can't imagine how they have put up with my insurmountable sass for eighteen years. I haven't been easy to raise, but I hope it's been worth it.

Leaving Centennial doesn't seem real. So many people who I have never met before have supported me these last three years just by reading what I've written in this column, and sharing it with others. I can't go without acknowledging all the people at YourHub.com who have given me this amazing opportunity to address Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton and Sheridan once a month with my thoughts in the printed edition and thousands more online. John Zwick, Kevin Hamm, Travis Henry, Fairlight Baer-Gutierrez and John Temple who have all helped me in this journalism adventure -Thanks for taking a chance on me three years ago and running my first submission.

And thanks to everyone in South Metro Denver who have continually listened to what I've had to say. This has truly been a defining experience, and one I will never forget. Although it is coming to an end, I know that it's only the beginning when I wake up tomorrow.

Kelley Robinson graduates today, May 22, from Arapahoe High School. He will be attending Colorado State University and was one of five incoming freshmen to be selected for the Rocky Mountain Collegian staff stipend.