- Haley James: [graduation speech] There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. I think that what that quote means is that life is short and opportunities are rare and we have to be vigilant in protecting them and not only the opportunities to succeed but the opportunities to laugh and see the enchantment in the world and to live. Because life doesn't owe us anything. As a matter of fact, I think that we owe something to the world.
- 'Mouth' McFadden: Your parents don't know Bevin's white?
- Skills: Never came up.
- 'Mouth' McFadden: And her parents don't know you're black?
- Skills: Look, they serving quiche, dawg.
- 'Mouth' McFadden: Can I go to this thing? 'Cause it sounds like it's gonna be an awesome disaster.
- Skills: Great, laugh it up.
- 'Mouth' McFadden: I'm just playing around. It's probably not even a big deal. I mean, I were her parents, I'd be more worried about you being you than you being black.
- Brooke: [to Principal Turner] When I was a freshman, I wasn't a very good person. I mean sure I was popular and dating seniors but as a person I was pretty lost. And over the last four years I've been forced to grow up. I stopped letting boys define me and I started believing in myself and in my potential and I ran for student council president and I designed a clothing line and somewhere along the way the lost, little, party girl became the girl on the wall of honor. And I know what I did was wrong, I know, but the girl I was when I came to this school? I'm not sure she would have. And isn't that the point of high school? Isn't that what you guys have been trying to teach us for the last four years?