Mark Wahlberg Earns High School Diploma
Mark Wahlberg: High School Graduating Class of 2013That's how the Hollywood star chose to sign his op-ed article for the Huffington Post. After dropping out of high school in the ninth grade, Mark Wahlberg, 42, recently made the effort to go back to school to earn his diploma.
"My circumstances were not unlike millions of other teens today, who live in tough working class neighborhoods surrounded by drugs, violence and crime, and who struggle to stay on the right path without positive influences," Wahlberg went on to explain.
Throughout the past year, the actor took classes online, studied between takes on set, and focused free time at home on earning his credits. He eventually went on to receive his diploma this past summer.
Mark Wahlberg works with several charities in support of encouraging teens to commit to their education. The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, through partnerships with other charities such as the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens and their Graduate for Más program, has fought to eradicate the country's staggering dropout rates. (Every day, approximately 7,000 students drop out of high school.) Mark has dedicated himself to leading by example. Recognizing that the incredible success he's garnered without a high school diploma is an extreme outlier, he strives today to inform the nation's youth, specifically those in danger of falling victim to environments plagued by drugs, violence, and crime, of the importance of earning and appreciating an education. Wahlberg also has four children of his own who are learning by his lead.
"You are not alone. 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."