They may not have taken the traditional path to high school graduation, but the 48 students who graduated from the Wareham Cooperative School completed the task on Wednesday, and did so by doing things their own way.

"Most have been told by one or more people this day would never come for them," said guidance administrator Eileen Frazier of the Class of 2014. "For many of our graduates, they are among the first if not the very first in their families to receive a high school diploma."

The first to congratulate the class was Wareham Schools Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood, who spoke to the students' determination.

"You've demonstrated you have inner strength and the ability to complete a task--my advice to you is to never forget you have these characteristics," she said. "I know the decision which led you to sit here this evening--a decision to stay in school, work hard and earn your diploma--is a decision you'll never regret."

The Wareham High School auditorium was filled with family, friends and alumni ready to congratulate the graduating class. One such person was Samiat Finni, local business owner and former night school graduate.

"Students arrive at this location for all types of reasons," she said in her speech to the class of 2014. "I found myself pregnant at the age of 16 and had to get real honest with myself real fast and figure out what I wanted to do with my life and how I wanted this little person who I was responsible for to turn out."

"And she turned out alright," she continued. "She's graduating tonight," she said, looking over at her daughter, Dajia Vanessa Goldberg-Finni.

She left the students with the advice to follow their own path and determine their own success.

"Being successful doesn't mean working on Wall Street or owning a business. You have to stay true to yourself. You have to be happy with your accomplishments," she said. "Don't rely on people's judgment of you.  Focus on being you."

Just before diplomas were handed out, graduating senior Rebekka Tribou gave a speech to her classmates about perseverance and continuing to work hard.

"Even if you feel complete with ending this chapter in your life, tomorrow will be time for us to turn the page and continue to better ourselves," she said.