Getty Images
The ceremony at Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto was so important to Drake that he traded in the mic he usually used for singing to instead deliver a speech to all of the students, and spoke of his struggles to get to where he is now.
Dedicating the speech to his mom, Sandi, Drake explained why he went back to school. "I reached a point in my life where I realized that there aren't material things that can give me the excitement that I'm looking for," he said. "There's a void, there's a gap in my life that I need to fill and I needed to sit and think long and hard what that was."
The singer reportedly hired a private tutor over the summer and worked for five months to finish up his studies.
The day was extra special to his mom, Drake's biggest support system. "She's a retired teacher and always wanted me to graduate," he shared. "I think I'll sleep a little better tonight knowing that I found a way to follow through."
Watch the video of Drake's graduation speech below.
See Photos of Drake's Fashion Evolution
- Say Cheese
- Ladies Love Drizzy
- Wear It With Ease
- Crown Royal With YMCMB Attached
- Wearing His Heart... on His Shirt
- Shaded Glory
- Easy Does It
- Why So Serious?
- Pop Goes the Drizzy
- Cold Hard Cash
- Mama's Boy
- Making Headlines
- Sweater Envy
- I'm a Business, Man
- How I'm Living
- Most Expensive Hip-Hop Album Covers
- Nas' 'Stillmatic' Album
- Fat Joe's 'J.O.S.E. (Jealous Ones Still Envy)' Album
- 50 Cent's 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' Album
- Lil' Kim's 'La Belle Mafia' Album
- Cam'ron's 'Killa Season' Album
- LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out' Album
- Eric B. & Rakim's 'Paid in Full' Album
- Master P's 'Da Last Don' Album
- E-40's 'In a Major Way' Album
- Tupac's 'All Eyez on Me' Album
- Sizzling Summer Flings
- B.o.B. & Taylor Swift
- Nas & Nicki Minaj
- J. Cole & Rita Ora
- Justin Bieber & Rihanna
- Lil Wayne & Jennifer Lopez
- Rick Ross & Erykah Badu
- Chris Brown & Brandy
- Meek Mill & Azealia Banks
- Drake & Teyana Taylor
- Machine Gun Kelly & Iggy Azalea
- Outrageous & Extravagant Hip-Hop and R&B Weddings
- Timbaland & Monique Idlett: Prominent Producer & Wife Wed on Private Island
- Black Eyed Peas' Taboo & Jaymie Dizon: Boyz II Men Sings for Bride & Groom's First Dance
- Eric Benet & Manuela: Bride Breaks Pregnancy News During Wedding Reception
- Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown: A Concert-Sized Ceremony for a Pop Queen & Her R&B King
- Treach & Pepa: Hip-Hop's First Power Couple Tie the Knot
- Kelis & Nas: Bride Dons Bright Green Wedding Dress
- Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz: Married on the Mediterranean Sea
- T.I. & Tiny: Royal-Style Arrival in a Horse-Drawn Carriage
- Monica & Shannon Brown: Bride Rocks $1 Million in Jewels & Has 40-Piece Gospel Choir
- Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon: Renew Vows in Front of the Eiffel Tower



Kellie Pickler Named 'Dancing With the Stars' Champion
Taylor Swift Dominates at 2013 Billboard Music Awards
Beyonce Releases New Anthem, 'Grown Woman'
J. Cole Performs 'Born Sinner' on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,' Reveals Competitive Spirit Against Kanye West
Blake Shelton Joins NBC in Organizing Oklahoma Tornado Benefit Concert
Blake Shelton Will Return for Season 5 of 'The Voice'
Toby Keith Says His Hometown of Moore, Oklahoma 'Will Perservere' After Deadly Tornado
Toby Keith Returns to Help Family, Friends in Moore, Oklahoma
Carrie Underwood 'Goats' Hunter Hayes With Blown Away Tour Prank
Carrie Underwood Says She's 'Queen of Awkward' in Marie Claire Interview
