Source: WENN

I’m no fan of Aubrey Graham, the man known to the world as the rapper Drake, but I must say I am impressed with his latest accomplishment. The YMCMB front man just became a high school graduate.

I’m sure someone somewhere is rolling their eyes thinking what’s the big deal, after all the man is 25. But let’s be real, how many people in the music industry, particularly on his level, are thinking about obtaining a high school diploma when they have already amassed enormous wealth and status? Lawd knows ya’ll shade the mess out of Beyonce for her lack of education so I say congratulations are definitely in order for Mr. Drizzy.

Last night, the rapper/actor/low-key wanna-be R&B singer tweeted the good news, saying:

If you’re wondering why this is just now happening, Drake dropped out of school when he got a role on the Canadian TV show “Degrassi: The Next Generation” at 15. He was on the show until 2009, and we all know what happened after that when Weezy F got a hold of him.

It sounds like Drake didn’t take an easy way out to graduate either, shouting out one of his teachers who he credits for his accomplishment:

“Thank you to my teacher Kim Janzen for spending the last 5 months working tirelessly with me!! OVO SOUND”

Go head, Aubrey! C/O 2012

shutterstock

For college students with undecided degrees, first time college go-ers, or those looking to go back to school for another college degree, this list is for you! Here are 14 of the best and most helpful college degrees in 2012. These degrees are in high-demand and are bound to present several different job opportunities.

First and foremost, let me say that this story isn’t about my child in particular, but about a niece of mine with a lot of talent and potential. I just thought I would bring this scenario to you guys to get your opinion on it and know what you would do as a parent (as I know many of our readers are mothers).

So during a recent trip to see my family, I had the chance to see almost all of my nieces and nephews. Two of them, twins, my family has been somewhat estranged from because of their mother and her rocky relationship with my brother. They’re both married to different people, but they still don’t get along all these years later. I also had something of an online argument with her and her sisters after one of my nephews other aunts decided to publicly disrespect my brother–his father–via Facebook after HE did the same. After some good time passed, my niece and nephew came to my mother’s home for the first time in years during Thanksgiving and we all got to reconnect. At THAT time, they were talking about their post-high school plans, their sports (which had always been a huge part of their high school career) and what they hoped to study.

Fast forward to graduation time and my visit home in May. As my sister picked up her doctorate, my cousin graduated from high school and talked about going away to a Big 10 University in the fall, and my nephew was asked to play baseball at a Division I school, my niece was the only graduate I knew who didn’t seem to have any after-the-fact plans. When I talked to her father about it all, since she was doing a good job of being MIA after all the festivities, I was quite disturbed to find that she had told him and others that she really didn’t think she was going to go to school. Though she had been accepted to a good school that wanted her to play softball in another state, she didn’t want to go that far because she didn’t know anybody out there…

Always one to stand out and stand on her own, even as a twin, she all of a sudden wasn’t ready to stand completely alone for the sake of her education. It was almost June and she hadn’t said yes or no to any school, and it seemed she was just going to take a break from school altogether. I could understand her reservations about attending a school far away from home, as I was the last child in my family and was somewhat scared about making  the decision to go out-of-state for school back in the day. But to have no plans and to say you’re not really feeling the idea of school? C’mon, this is 2012, and in this world and in this tepid economy, NOT going to school these days is unacceptable in my opinion.

And I’m saying it’s not acceptable because I think it’s a wack way of thinking or something like that, but rather, because as a friend would say, these days a bachelor’s degree in SOMETHING is your ticket in the door. At this point, it’s what the high school diploma used to be, and while many would say that a college degree doesn’t guarantee you any kind of job in this shoddy economy, we know that it at least offers you a shot at something and you won’t have your resume immediately put in the “No, thanks” pile. Many fields require a bit more, but a bachelor’s degree is something you should strive to have, whether you’re taking a few classes while working, or if you’re literally in the books full-time solely focused on your studies. If my niece decides to take some time off, that’s fine, but the whole concept of saying, “School’s just not for everybody” is on the nonsense level at this point. It’s for everybody, son. Even if she doesn’t go away, she needs to take her behind to school and not waste too much time waiting to do so. Her parents don’t seem too bothered by her choice at the moment (only time will tell how they’ll act if she’s sitting around on her mother’s couch in the fall), but as her aunt, I’ll say I’m clearly a bit worried. It’s already tough out here, I hope she doesn’t make things for herself much tougher.

So I guess that leads me to my question for you: As a parent, how would you react if your child (or even your niece or nephew as in my case), told you they didn’t want to go to college? No big deal? Or big problem?

More on Madame Noire!

• Ask a Very Smart Brotha Live: Dealing With His Crazy Baby Mother & Can You Get Over Wack Sex?
• The Thrill is Gone: 7 TV Shows That Need To Call It Quits…Like Yesterday
• Giving You The Best That I Got: 7 Signs You Might Be Giving Too Much In Your Relationship
• Where You Been Cherie Johnson?
• Grieving Over a Girlfriend: 7 Ways to Move on After a Break-up…Between Friends
• Why I Think Natural Hair is Indeed a Political Statement
• Well, Hiya To You! Shouting Out Some Of Our Favorite Black Imports From Britain

dailymail.co.uk

This story is giving me serious flashbacks. I went to a Catholic Highschool and remember being lectured nearly every day up until graduation about the consequences of our families cheering too loudly at the commencement ceremony—as if we had any control over them. The threats seemed pretty baseless but a Cincinnati student is actually being denied his diploma because he received too many cheers when he walked across the stage.

Anthony Cornist is a popular student at Mt. Healthy High School and when he achieved the pinnacle of high school achievements, he received roaring support from family, friends, and even some teachers. But when all was said and done, Anthony didn’t receive the diploma he earned from the school, he got a letter from the principle instead, stating:

 ”I will be holding your diploma in the main office due to the excessive cheering your guests displayed during the roll call.”

Anthony and his family were shocked. He told WCPO News, “I did nothing wrong except walk across the stage.”

What’s crazier is principal Marlon Styles is demanding 20 hours of community service before Anthony can officially graduate, and get this, the hours can be split between Anthony and his family, or the senior can perform them all himself. The teen’s mother, Traci Cornist says the school is insane.

“I don’t understand how he’s being punished for something he has no control over. I just thought that was ludicrous… I have no clue where the logic comes in.”

“He’s definitely not doing the community service,” she said. “I’m definitely not doing the community service.”

More on Madame Noire!

• What’s Black Enough For You?
• Confession: I Felt Joy Hurting a Man
• Well, Hiya To You! Shouting Out Some Of Our Favorite Black Imports From Britain
• Why I Think Natural Hair is Indeed a Political Statement
• Where You Been Cherie Johnson?
• Grieving Over a Girlfriend: 7 Ways to Move on After a Break-up…Between Friends
• What’s Black Enough For You?