Rap-Up.com || Drake Gives High School Graduation Speech

After five months of hard work, Drake joined his fellow students at the commencement ceremony celebrating his graduation from high school. With diploma in hand, the Young Money rapper shared life lessons with his peers at Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto.

“I still managed to fight this education system and tell myself that it wasn’t for me,” said Drake, who dropped out of high school at 15. “I get why this institution is in place for each and every one of us.”

Drake worked with his teacher Kim Janzen over the summer to complete his studies. “What this is about today for all of you is the art of following through. That’s one of the most important life lessons that my uncle every taught me,” said the 26-year-old, whose uncle was in the audience. “I’m so proud of you because there are different ways to follow through, and tonight you followed through with a straight shot and for that, you should give yourself a round of applause.”

Despite his money and success, he still was missing something in his life. “I reached a point in my life where I realized there aren’t material things that can give me the excitement that I’m looking for,” he shared. “There’s a void in my life that I need to fill and I need to sit and think long and hard what that was. It was the fact that I had left a gaping hole in my story of following through.”

He continued, “Sometimes it’s about going there, not getting there. Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. And sometimes when you get there, you’ll look back and you’ll realize that you wish you could go there again because all the experiences are the reason that you are who you are today. I want you all to give a round of applause for yourselves for getting there.”

He dedicated his diploma to his mother. “This piece of paper I’d like to dedicate to my mother because she’s a retired teacher and always wanted me to graduate,” he said as the crowd cheered. “I think I’ll sleep a little better tonight knowing that I found a way to follow through.”

“Coach Cal at my graduation!!” wrote Drake, who received a jersey from University of Kentucky’s Wild Cats basketball coach John Calipari.

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20 Comments

bluesnoclues
October 27th, 2012 at 10:45 am
wow, so proud of him. he really shows that anyone can go back and finish their education. congrats drake!

[Reply]
Pereezy YMCMB MMG
October 27th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Well Done… Now You a Real Man… Much Love and Respect

[Reply]
The-Truth
October 27th, 2012 at 10:54 am
This is NOT inspiring. So basically the message he’s sending his fans is: “hey go ahead and drop out of school and chase your dreams of becoming a rap superstar, and if it doesn’t work out you can always go back at anytime.” So many years will be wasted for those young men that think they can complete a High School diploma at 26.

[Reply]
Mentamir Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@The-Truth, how did you manage to somehow turn this into a negative thing? What kind of sane person would look at artists like Drake and try to replicate their lives? He didn’t need to graduate, but he did.He’s taking responsibility for the choices he has made. I find it quite contradictional that you’d think this is a bad thing.

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Hov Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
@The-Truth, highschool was bullshit and a waste of time – hov

[Reply]
Dro Reply:
October 28th, 2012 at 8:53 am
@The-Truth, If they’re actually grinding and working towards it. Drake wasn’t just sitting around waiting for a break he was out there networking and he even worked ad a gopher and assistant for various studios.

Besides if they’re willing to drop out without it being an informed decision and nobody in their life to intervene who’s fault is that?

[Reply]
miles
October 27th, 2012 at 11:26 am
it would be so funny if he gave that speech in that fur coat lmao

[Reply]
qe Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
@miles, hahahahaha

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TEAM REAL
October 27th, 2012 at 11:27 am
I REFUSE TO CONGRATULATE THIS FOOL, BECAUSE HIS MAKING INTO SOME SORT OF PRESS CONFERENCE – WE PASS ARE TESTS AND GRADUATE EVERY F*CKING YEAR, BUT THE WORLD DON’T CONGRATULATE US? OH SO I GUESS THE NEW THING IS GRADUATING, BECAUSE THIS FRUIT HAS! YA’LL HAVE NO SELF-WORTH AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ‘WE’ CAN ACHIEVE.

[Reply]
miles Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
@TEAM REAL, “I’m so proud of you because there are different ways to follow through, and tonight you followed through with a straight shot and for that, you should give yourself a round of applause.”
-Drake

[Reply]
Jake Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@TEAM REAL, Was your point better accentuated by the capitalization of all letters?

[Reply]
McM
October 27th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Dope.

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Lol
October 27th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Woooow…good job drake 5 WHOLE MONTHS of hardwork. Doesn’t compare at all to my 4 little years -___- He was sooooo the perfect person to give that speech!

[Reply]
Hank Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@Lol, He was one credit short of graduating. Let that sink in.

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Diego
October 27th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
He is such a fake ass wanna b thug his soft ass lmao

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love
October 27th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Good that he gratuated but they look sus as fuck esp drake and that nigga that thinks he’s a pimp

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shortytaiba
October 27th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
good job drake at least you went back but to all the haters why the shade at least he went back and he dropped out to do degrassi not rap get ya facts right and dont worry about why they let him give a speech

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ria trust
October 28th, 2012 at 8:18 am
a hard worker and generally a good guy congrats

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Jermaine
October 28th, 2012 at 11:44 am
How is someone going to argue a point and use the word “contradictional”. People need to seriously get educated. This story is about someone getting a degree and someone tries to argue a point with “contradictional”. How about, read a book, and stop making ‘contradictory’ statements to prove your arguments?
Yeh this is aimed at you Mentamir; all high and mighty.

[Reply]
Stre3t Danc@
October 29th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
High school graduation speech? Wow. So inspiring.

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