COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The closing of one chapter and the opening of another.

Johnson Park Middle School held its annual 8th-grade promotion ceremony Wednesday, marking the end of the students’ middle school career as they begin high school.

The students got some words of advice from their peers and also from NBC4 Today’s Matt Barnes, who graduated from Johnson Park 25 years ago.

“Trust me, I didn’t leave Johnson Park in 2000 knowing what I was going to do with the rest of my live, not even close,” Barnes told the students. “I had more learning to do like you do, more growing up to do. No matter what comes your way the next four years in high school, and trust me, high school is going to have its ups and downs as you probably know, do me one favor. Show up. Just keep showing up.”