Alyssa Bartlett, left, and Laura Pitchford take a moment to make a memory before graduation ceremonies Friday night at Slippery Rock High School. About 150 seniors got their diplomas.

SLIPPERY ROCK — About 150 Slippery Rock High School graduates entered the real world Friday night, with advice from their valedictorian on what to expect from it.

Rebecca Negley said her research on the "real world" involved various sources, including Wikipedia, an Internet encyclopedia, and MTV, a music television channel. Negley addressed fellow graduates at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

MTV, which produced a reality show titled, "The Real World," taught students to expect that world to involve living in a mansion, partying all the time, not working at a real job and being videotaped, she said.

"Many reliable people told me this isn't the case," she said.

Those people, family and friends, said life is harder than that, but not quite as bleak in some cases, she said. Graduates will always have mentors, friends, coaches and family members who can provide support, for example, she said.

So even if MTV didn't prepare them for the future, all of those people did, she said.

"It's our turn and our time so let's go," she said.

Salutatorian Abir Chatterjee encouraged his classmates to hug and thank a family member during graduation festivities that are sure to follow. He also told his classmates not to limit themselves in what they want to accomplish.

"The world is our playground," he said.

Graduates have a variety of plans for their time in the real world, but most were headed to some type of college, whether near or far.

For Missy Cupps of Prospect, it is Butler County Community College for elementary education. Her friend Ashley Bowser of Slippery Rock also plans to go to BC3 to begin her studies in social work.

For friends Brian Kelly and Grant Ahrens, both of Slippery Rock, Geneva College is their choice. Kelly plans to play basketball and Ahrens wants to try baseball as long as an injury heals. Both are undecided about academic majors, but happy they'll have at least one friend to talk to at school.

"I'm going to miss seeing all these kids," said Kelly.

For Joe Vagasky of Prospect, art and drawing are in the plans for his studies at BC3.

"I've been into it my whole life," he said. "It's been my passion."

His friend, Courtney Morrison of Forestville, shares a similar interest, but plans to go to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh to study game art and design.

"I've played video games since I was five," she said. "I've always thought of (new) games and want to introduce new games to people."