Common UCLA Appearance: Motivates High School Students to Pursue College, Higher Education

Common was a guest speaker at UCLA, where he encouraged high school students to pursue higher education, and motivated them to attend college. The Nobody’s Smiling rapper took the stage at the Fulfillment Fund's Destination College event at UCLA, speaking to hundreds of high schoolers about attending the college of their dreams. The funding program provides students everywhere with information, guidance, and resources that they could use to graduate in the near future as well.

Common has been known to encourage youth to pursue higher education in the past, and he made sure to leave them with some excellent words of wisdom during the day’s event. "It's really giving opportunities to kids who may not have the opportunity to know a lot about college. It's inspiring, to be honest,” Common said.

Packed Royce Hall @UCLA for 19th annual @FulfillmentFund #destinationcollege. Keynote @common takes the stage. pic.twitter.com/9mnDS44DIh

— Kelly Hewitt King (@KellyCHKing) September 19, 2015

He continued, “Sometimes you know you have kids that don't even think about college really. This Destination College and the Fulfillment Fund is really saying, 'hey, we can provide you with the opportunity to act, to get you access to college and a college education.' I'm really in support of this because it's doing great for kids who may not have had that exposure."

The Fulfillment Fund serves 2,500 students in the Los Angeles area, with statistics of 9 out of 10 graduates planning to enroll in college.

“Nationally, only about half of high school graduates from low-income communities enroll in college. Thanks to the services the Fulfillment Fund provides, 95% of our 2014 high school graduates planned to enroll in college,” the site writes of their program.

With Common having earned a Golden Globe, Oscar, and Grammy over the years, he is a wonderful role model to students who want to pursue their dreams, and continue their education. He has also been recruited to speak at commencement ceremonies at universities.