It was three years ago during a missionary trip to Fiji that Oaks Christian High School senior Leslie Small learned a valuable lesson from island natives.

An old native saying, which roughly translates as "no worries," resonated with Small, who took it on as a personal mantra.

As the valedictorian for the Class of 2007, Small urged her fellow graduates to cast away their worries, don't dwell too much into the future and be content with who they have become as young adults.

"Live in the present with a willingness to help and enjoy life," Small said to her classmates. "Out of peace and contentment comes readiness for action. We all know you are all going to do amazing things and become even more incredible individuals."

Small, along with hundreds of family, friends and school faculty and staff gathered at Calvary Community Church on Thursday to celebrate the seventh senior class to graduate from the private nondenominational Christian school in Westlake Village.

Flashes from cameras lit up the church as 149 seniors, dressed in cardinal red gowns and gold sashes, made their way through the crowd while "Pomp and Circumstance" played in the background.

Sophia Rohde had her camera ready as she searched for her daughter, Alexa, in the crowd of seniors.

"It's exciting and sad," Rohde said. "She's our last child to go through this school. This is the end of one thing, but a beginning of something else in her life."

Keynote speaker Bill McCartney, former head football coach for the University of Colorado and founder of the Christian evangelical ministry Promise Keepers, spoke about the importance of faith, living in the Word of God and helping others.

"I want to pray that you set a standard and that you will raise the bar so when you come back, you know that God has a place in your heart," McCartney said.

McCartney also posed a challenge to the class:

"When you come back here for your 10-year reunion ... no divorces," he said. "If you do that, you will be the most extraordinary story in all of Christendom."

After McCartney's rousing speech, all 149 students were called to the stage to receive their diplomas.

Collective "oohs" and "awws" came from crowd as they watched each seniors' baby picture transform into their senior portrait, which was flashed on two large screens on stage.

It was all a bittersweet memory for senior Nina Ratzenberger.

"I'm excited, but it will be hard because we have become such great friends," said Ratzenberger, who will be attending Providence College in Rhode Island in the fall. "I know there is life after high school, but it hasn't hit me yet."

Oaks Christian

High school: Oaks Christian.

Location: Westlake Village.

Affiliation: Private, nondenominational Christian school.

Spring enrollment: 650.

Graduating class: 149.

Valedictorian: Leslie Small.

Salutatorian: Meredith MacGregor.

Principal: David Cooper.

Headmaster: Jeff Woodcock.

Past year's highlights: More than 90 percent of seniors will attend a four-year university; parliamentary debate team ranked in top 16 in the state; campus received the Commissioner's Cup for best male athletic program in CIF Southern Section for second consecutive year.