This past weekend, hundreds of area college students walked across the stage, grabbed their diplomas and stepped boldly in to the real world.

We know we won’t be first first to say this to those who graduated this weekend, but we wish them our most heartfelt congratulations.

The most recent graduates from Concordia College-Alabama, Marion Military Institute, Selma University and Wallace Community College Selma can now take their place as the next generation of leaders of Selma and Dallas County.

Speaking at the Wallace commencement, State Rep. Darrio Melton told the graduates their lives would be defined by how they change the world.

“What matters is what’s inside of you,” Melton said. “Only you can define who you are. Many will strive to be survivors, just enough to get by, and many will strive to be successful. I challenge the next generation and the graduates tonight not to just survive, not just to be successful, but to be significant because when you are significant you impact other people’s lives.”

The class of 2014 will lead this city, county and state in to the future, and we know they’ll make their mark.