Right before the seniors at East Newton High School graduated they learned an one more important life lesson.

"Life’s tough,” says East Newton Senior Ashley Brattin. “But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.”

Last Sunday, one day before she was supposed to graduate, Brattin's house was demolished by a tornado.

"When I was under the couch, think I'm supposed to graduate so thank goodness I'm still breathing,” Brattin says.

While many seniors in the East Newton school district lost their homes none lost any family members.

"We did have some seniors lose their homes, but none were hurt and we're very thankful for that,” says district superintendent Tanya Vest.

“I'm just so happy no one in here lost a close family member,” adds Ashley’s sister Chassidy Heupel.

So, after a week of chaos, a community that was torn apart came together to finally celebrate the beginning of a whole new set of challenges for these seniors.

"It's a fix of emotions, it's happy, I'm glad we're here but sad knowing I'm never going to see some of them again,” says Brattin, who graduate fifth in her class.

109 seniors graduated this afternoon from East Newton High School.