Mark Wahlberg High School Diploma: 'Transformers 4' Actor Finally Graduates After Dropping Out in 10th Grade, Hopes to Inspire Fellow Dropouts
In a revealing blog post on the Huffington Post, acclaimed actor and producer Mark Wahlberg admitted that he finally earned his high school diploma this summer. The Boogie Nights star dropped out of school back in 10th grade in order to pursue his performance careers (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch was absolutely a great career choice), but decided to earn his degree in order to motivate other dropouts.
In this essay, Wahlberg explained how he was taking classes online for almost a year and "studying any chance I could get - on the set, traveling for work and at home."
"I was able to do it because I knew I wasn't alone, that other teens and adults were going through the same thing I was in balancing work and family in order to better themselves," Wahlberg writes. "To those students struggling every day and -- most importantly -- to those who are looking for a second chance, I have a message for you: never give up. Keep believing in yourselves and don't make small plans."
He added: "I can now look at my kids every day knowing that I didn't just do this for me -- I did it for them, and I did it for all the other teens and adults who have inspired me by their commitment to graduate."
The actor went on to explain that he has used his own experience "to help others graduate high school, noting that dropouts are more likely to be unemployed, in poor health, living in poverty or on public assistance."
Read more HERE!